CVE-2025-21443 is a classic buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-120) identified in Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, specifically during the processing of eAVB (enhanced Audio Video Bridging) message content. The vulnerability results from a failure to properly check the size of input data before copying it into a buffer, causing memory corruption. This flaw affects a wide range of Snapdragon models, including QAM, QCA, SA, and SRV series chipsets, which are commonly embedded in mobile devices, IoT devices, and other consumer electronics. The vulnerability requires local attacker privileges with low complexity and no user interaction, meaning an attacker with limited access to the device could exploit it to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause denial of service by crashing the system. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects high severity, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches were listed at the time of publication, and no exploits are known in the wild, but the broad affected product range and the critical nature of the flaw necessitate urgent mitigation. The vulnerability was reserved in December 2024 and published in April 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. The technical root cause is a buffer copy operation without adequate input size validation, a common yet dangerous coding error that can lead to memory corruption and exploitation.

The impact of CVE-2025-21443 is significant for organizations worldwide that utilize devices powered by affected Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized control over the device, potentially leading to data theft, espionage, or disruption of services. The vulnerability compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it a critical risk for mobile devices, embedded systems, and IoT devices relying on these chipsets. In enterprise environments, compromised devices could serve as entry points for lateral movement or persistent access. The lack of user interaction and low privilege requirements lower the barrier for exploitation by insiders or malware that has gained limited access. The broad range of affected chipsets means a large attack surface, impacting consumer electronics, telecommunications infrastructure, and industrial control systems. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the potential for weaponization remains high given the commonality of buffer overflow vulnerabilities in exploit development.

1. Monitor Qualcomm and device manufacturers for official patches and apply them promptly once released. 2. Implement strict local access controls and limit user privileges to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 3. Employ runtime protections such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), Data Execution Prevention (DEP), and stack canaries on affected devices where possible. 4. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation and memory corruption vulnerabilities. 5. For embedded and IoT deployments, isolate vulnerable devices within segmented network zones to limit lateral movement. 6. Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous memory corruption or exploitation attempts. 7. Educate users and administrators about the risks of local access and enforce strong authentication and physical security controls. 8. Where feasible, disable or restrict eAVB functionality if not required, reducing the attack surface. 9. Maintain up-to-date inventories of devices using affected Snapdragon chipsets to prioritize remediation efforts. 10. Collaborate with vendors to obtain timely vulnerability intelligence and coordinate response efforts.