CVE-2024-47014 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2024
Android before 2024-10-05 on Google Pixel devices allows privilege escalation in the ABL component, A-330537292.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47014 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Android operating system affecting Google Pixel devices. This issue specifically targets the ABL component, which stands for Android Boot Loader, a critical system component responsible for initializing the device's hardware and loading the operating system. The vulnerability was disclosed on October 5, 2024, and affects all Android versions prior to this date, making it a significant concern for users of affected devices. The ABL component serves as the first software to execute when a device boots, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to gain elevated privileges. The specific vulnerability number A-330537292 indicates this issue was tracked within Google's internal vulnerability management system, highlighting its severity and the need for immediate attention.
The technical flaw within the ABL component stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges. This weakness enables attackers to bypass normal security restrictions that would typically prevent malicious code from gaining root access to the system. The vulnerability likely involves improper input validation or insufficient access controls within the boot process, allowing malicious actors to inject code that can manipulate the system at a foundational level. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically related to inadequate privilege management during system initialization phases. The ABL's role in the boot process makes it particularly dangerous since any compromise at this level can lead to complete system takeover without requiring additional exploitation steps.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for affected Google Pixel device users. Privilege escalation at the ABL level means that an attacker could potentially gain root access to the device, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with full system privileges. This would enable malicious actors to install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive user data, modify system files, and bypass all standard security controls. The implications extend beyond individual privacy concerns to include potential corporate data breaches, as attackers could access confidential business information stored on compromised devices. The vulnerability affects all Pixel devices running Android versions prior to the October 5, 2024 security patch, creating a substantial attack surface across multiple device generations and user bases. This type of attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting boot and firmware components to establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-47014 primarily focus on applying the latest security patches released by Google. Users should immediately update their Pixel devices to the Android version released on October 5, 2024, which includes fixes for this ABL vulnerability. System administrators managing enterprise fleets of Pixel devices should prioritize patch deployment across all affected units to prevent potential exploitation. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious boot processes and unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability's nature as a boot loader issue requires hardware-level security measures, including proper firmware validation and secure boot mechanisms. Device manufacturers should ensure that their boot processes implement proper cryptographic verification of all components. Security teams should consider implementing device integrity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized modifications to the ABL or other boot components, as these attacks often go undetected by traditional endpoint protection solutions due to their low-level nature and early execution timing.