CVE-2014-9997 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 450, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 808, and SD 810, lack of input validation in PRDiagMaintenanceHandler can leads to buffer over read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-9997 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw affecting various Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors and their associated Android implementations. This issue resides within the PRDiagMaintenanceHandler component, which serves as a diagnostic interface for Qualcomm's mobile platforms. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate input data passed to this handler, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the lack of proper bounds checking. The affected hardware platforms include numerous Snapdragon Mobile and Wear chipsets such as MDM9206, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MSM8909W, and various SD series processors spanning from SD 210 through SD 810. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, indicating a prolonged window of exposure for affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient validation leads to memory access beyond allocated boundaries. The PRDiagMaintenanceHandler component likely processes diagnostic commands and configuration data from various system components or external interfaces, but fails to validate the length or content of input parameters before processing. This allows attackers to craft malicious input sequences that cause the system to read beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive memory contents, including cryptographic keys, user data, or system credentials. The buffer over-read condition can result in information disclosure, system instability, or even facilitate further exploitation through data corruption or privilege escalation vectors. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread adoption of these Qualcomm chipsets across numerous Android devices, creating a substantial attack surface.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9997 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the diagnostic infrastructure of mobile platforms. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from device memory, potentially compromising user privacy and system security. The vulnerability's presence in multiple generations of Snapdragon processors indicates a systemic issue within Qualcomm's diagnostic handling mechanisms rather than an isolated incident. This flaw could enable adversaries to gain insights into system internals, potentially aiding in the development of more sophisticated attacks targeting the broader Android ecosystem. The vulnerability's exploitation might also lead to denial of service conditions or system crashes, affecting device availability and user experience. Organizations and users with affected devices face significant risk, particularly in environments where mobile device security is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. System administrators should prioritize updating affected devices to the latest security patch levels, specifically those released after 2018-04-05, to address the input validation deficiencies in PRDiagMaintenanceHandler. Device manufacturers must ensure proper firmware updates are distributed and deployed across all affected hardware platforms, as the vulnerability spans multiple generations of Snapdragon processors. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous diagnostic command sequences that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls to limit access to diagnostic interfaces and restrict communication with potentially compromised devices. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of input validation in all system components, particularly those handling external data or user inputs, as emphasized by ATT&CK technique T1059.1001 for command and scripting interpreters and T1566 for credential access through network attacks, both of which could be facilitated through exploitation of this buffer over-read condition.