CVE-2025-27042 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in a broad range of Qualcomm Snapdragon products and platforms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-131, which pertains to the incorrect calculation of buffer size, leading to memory corruption. Specifically, this flaw occurs during the processing of video packets received from video firmware. The affected products span a vast array of Qualcomm hardware, including mobile platforms (e.g., Snapdragon 8 Gen series, Snapdragon 7 series, Snapdragon 4 series), IoT modems, automotive platforms, wearable platforms, and various connectivity modules such as FastConnect and QCA series chips. The vulnerability's CVSS v3.1 score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reveals that exploitation requires local access (AV:L) with low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Memory corruption vulnerabilities like this can lead to arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or system crashes. Given the nature of the flaw—incorrect buffer size calculation during video packet processing—attackers could craft malicious video data or firmware inputs to trigger the vulnerability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the extensive list of affected products and platforms increases the attack surface significantly. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention from stakeholders relying on Qualcomm Snapdragon hardware. This vulnerability is particularly critical because Snapdragon chips are widely used in smartphones, IoT devices, automotive systems, and other embedded platforms, making it a pervasive risk across multiple device categories.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-27042 is substantial due to the widespread use of Qualcomm Snapdragon components in consumer electronics, industrial IoT devices, automotive telematics, and enterprise mobile devices. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive corporate or personal data, while integrity compromises might allow attackers to manipulate device behavior or firmware. Availability impacts could disrupt critical services, especially in sectors relying on IoT and automotive platforms, such as manufacturing, transportation, and smart city infrastructure. The vulnerability's requirement for local access and low privileges means that attackers who gain initial footholds—via phishing, physical access, or compromised applications—could escalate their control significantly. This risk is amplified in environments with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or where mobile and IoT devices are integrated into corporate networks. Additionally, the absence of user interaction for exploitation facilitates stealthy attacks. The automotive sector in Europe, which increasingly depends on connected vehicle platforms powered by Qualcomm chips, faces risks of safety-critical system manipulation. Similarly, telecom providers using affected modems and connectivity modules could experience service disruptions or data leaks. Overall, the vulnerability threatens the security posture of European organizations across multiple industries, necessitating urgent risk assessment and mitigation.

1. Immediate Inventory and Assessment: European organizations should conduct a comprehensive inventory of all devices and systems utilizing Qualcomm Snapdragon components, including mobile devices, IoT endpoints, automotive systems, and networking equipment. 2. Firmware and Software Updates: Although no patches were available at the time of disclosure, organizations must monitor Qualcomm’s advisories and promptly apply any released firmware or software updates addressing CVE-2025-27042. 3. Network Segmentation: Isolate vulnerable devices within segmented network zones to limit lateral movement in case of exploitation. 4. Access Controls: Enforce strict local access controls and privilege restrictions on devices with affected Snapdragon hardware to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 5. Monitoring and Detection: Deploy advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous behaviors related to memory corruption or unauthorized firmware interactions. 6. Vendor Coordination: Collaborate with device manufacturers and service providers to ensure timely patch deployment and to receive guidance on mitigating risks specific to device models. 7. Incident Response Preparedness: Update incident response plans to include scenarios involving exploitation of embedded hardware vulnerabilities and conduct tabletop exercises accordingly. 8. User Awareness: Educate users about the risks of local exploitation vectors and encourage secure handling of devices, especially in BYOD environments. 9. Restrict Firmware Updates: Implement controls to verify the authenticity and integrity of firmware updates to prevent malicious firmware injection exploiting this vulnerability. 10. Consider Device Replacement: For critical systems where patching is not feasible or delayed, evaluate the replacement of vulnerable hardware with secure alternatives.