CVE-2025-21462 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon components, including FastConnect 6900 and 7800, various SA and SC series chips, and WCD/WSA series modules. The flaw arises from improper handling of IOCTL requests where the input buffer size significantly exceeds the expected command argument limit, leading to memory corruption. This out-of-bounds write can overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially allowing an attacker with limited privileges (local access with low privileges) to escalate their privileges, execute arbitrary code, or cause denial of service by crashing the affected component. The vulnerability requires no user interaction but does require local access with low privileges, making exploitation feasible in scenarios where an attacker has some foothold on the device. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The affected Snapdragon components are widely used in mobile devices, IoT, automotive, and embedded systems, making this vulnerability relevant across multiple device categories. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating a need for proactive mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-21462 can be significant, especially for those relying on devices or embedded systems powered by affected Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. This includes smartphones, tablets, automotive infotainment and telematics systems, industrial IoT devices, and networking equipment. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access, data leakage, or disruption of critical services. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation, where device integrity and availability are paramount, this vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement by attackers or disrupt operational technology environments. The high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact means sensitive corporate or personal data could be exposed or systems rendered inoperable. Given the prevalence of Snapdragon-based devices in consumer and enterprise environments, the threat surface is broad. Additionally, the local access requirement suggests that initial compromise or insider threat scenarios could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability, emphasizing the need for strong endpoint security and access controls.

Organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation approach: 1) Monitor vendor communications closely for official patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 2) Restrict local access to devices running affected Snapdragon components by enforcing strict user privilege management and endpoint security controls to prevent unauthorized local code execution. 3) Employ application whitelisting and behavior monitoring on endpoints to detect anomalous IOCTL calls or attempts to exploit device drivers. 4) For embedded and IoT devices, segment networks to isolate vulnerable devices and limit exposure to untrusted users or networks. 5) Conduct thorough inventory and asset management to identify devices with affected chipsets and prioritize them for risk assessment and remediation. 6) Collaborate with device manufacturers and suppliers to ensure timely updates and consider device replacement if patches are unavailable or delayed. 7) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying exploitation attempts targeting device drivers or kernel components. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, monitoring specific attack vectors, and managing device lifecycle risks.