CVE-2025-27038 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 found in the Adreno GPU drivers used in Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. The flaw occurs during graphics rendering in the Chrome browser, where improper memory management leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability affects a broad spectrum of Qualcomm products, including multiple Snapdragon mobile platforms (e.g., Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, 6 Gen 1, 680 4G, 685 4G), wearable platforms (Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1), and various wireless connectivity chipsets (e.g., QCA6391, WCN3980). The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by exploiting the memory corruption, potentially leading to full system compromise. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 reflects a high severity with network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed. The scope is unchanged, meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the wide deployment of affected Snapdragon chipsets in mobile devices and IoT equipment makes this a significant threat. The vulnerability was reserved in February 2025 and published in June 2025, with no patches currently linked, indicating that mitigation and patch deployment are urgent priorities once available.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-27038 is substantial due to the prevalence of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets in smartphones, tablets, wearables, and IoT devices widely used across enterprises and consumers. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulate device operations, or disrupt availability through denial of service. This could compromise corporate mobile endpoints, critical communication devices, and connected infrastructure, potentially affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data and services. The requirement for user interaction (e.g., visiting a malicious website via Chrome) increases the risk in environments with less controlled user behavior. The high attack complexity somewhat limits mass exploitation but targeted attacks against high-value European entities remain a concern. Additionally, the lack of current patches increases exposure time. The vulnerability could also impact supply chain security and consumer trust in mobile and wearable devices across Europe.

1. Immediately implement network-level protections to block access to known malicious domains and URLs that could host exploit payloads targeting Chrome's rendering engine. 2. Enforce strict browser security policies such as disabling or restricting JavaScript execution from untrusted sources and employing browser isolation techniques. 3. Monitor GPU driver and system logs for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, including crashes or unusual memory usage patterns. 4. Educate users on the risks of interacting with untrusted web content and phishing attempts that could trigger the vulnerability. 5. Coordinate with Qualcomm and device manufacturers to obtain and deploy security patches as soon as they become available. 6. For enterprise-managed devices, consider temporarily restricting Chrome usage or deploying alternative browsers with different rendering engines until patches are applied. 7. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting exploitation attempts targeting GPU drivers or memory corruption. 8. Review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving GPU driver vulnerabilities and remote code execution via browsers. 9. For IoT and wearable devices using affected chipsets, work with vendors to confirm patch availability and apply firmware updates promptly. 10. Maintain up-to-date asset inventories to identify all devices with affected Snapdragon platforms to prioritize remediation efforts.