CVE-2025-21424 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 found in Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. The vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of memory when the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) driver APIs are called concurrently, leading to memory corruption. This flaw affects a vast array of Qualcomm products, including numerous Snapdragon mobile platforms (from Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 to Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2), IoT modems, automotive platforms, wearable platforms, and various connectivity modules such as FastConnect and QCA series chipsets. The root cause is a race condition or concurrency issue in the NPU driver that allows memory to be freed while still in use, enabling attackers to manipulate memory state. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high severity, with an attack vector requiring local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service, compromising device security. No patches or known exploits are currently public, but the vulnerability's presence in critical Qualcomm components used globally in billions of devices makes it a significant concern.

The impact of CVE-2025-21424 is substantial given the extensive deployment of affected Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms in smartphones, IoT devices, automotive systems, and wearables worldwide. Successful exploitation could allow attackers with local access to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full device compromise. This could result in data theft, unauthorized surveillance, disruption of device functionality, or persistent malware installation. The vulnerability threatens confidentiality by exposing sensitive data, integrity by allowing unauthorized code execution or modification, and availability by enabling denial-of-service conditions. Given the integration of these chipsets in critical infrastructure such as automotive safety systems and industrial IoT, the risk extends beyond consumer devices to enterprise and industrial environments. The requirement for local access somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in scenarios where attackers gain physical access or leverage other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges.

Organizations and device manufacturers should prioritize the development and deployment of patches or firmware updates from Qualcomm addressing this use-after-free vulnerability. Until patches are available, implement strict access control policies to restrict local access to devices, especially for sensitive or critical systems. Employ runtime protections such as memory corruption mitigations (e.g., Address Space Layout Randomization, Control Flow Integrity) where supported by the platform. Monitor devices for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, including crashes or unexpected reboots related to NPU driver usage. For enterprise and industrial deployments, segment networks to limit lateral movement from compromised devices. Device owners should avoid installing untrusted applications that could invoke vulnerable APIs and maintain updated security software. Qualcomm and OEMs should provide clear guidance and timely updates to end users. Additionally, security teams should prepare incident response plans for potential exploitation scenarios involving this vulnerability.