CVE-2025-27053 is a vulnerability identified in Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets stemming from an incorrect calculation of buffer size (CWE-131) during the processing of Trusted Application (TA) commands related to the PlayReady APP use case. This flaw leads to memory corruption, which can be exploited to compromise system confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability affects an extensive list of Snapdragon products spanning mobile platforms (e.g., Snapdragon 8 Gen series, Snapdragon 7c Compute platforms), IoT modems, automotive platforms, wearable devices, and connectivity modules such as FastConnect and various LTE/5G modems. The flaw requires local privilege (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N), indicating that an attacker with some level of access to the device could trigger the vulnerability without needing victim involvement. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high severity, with low attack complexity and significant potential impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability was published on October 9, 2025, with no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The root cause is a miscalculation of buffer sizes when handling TA commands, which can lead to buffer overflows or memory corruption, potentially allowing privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution within the trusted execution environment. Given the critical role Snapdragon chipsets play in billions of devices worldwide, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to a wide range of applications including mobile communications, automotive systems, IoT devices, and compute platforms.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-27053 is significant due to the widespread use of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets in consumer devices, enterprise mobile equipment, automotive telematics, and IoT infrastructure. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive corporate or personal data, while integrity compromises might allow attackers to manipulate device functions or firmware. Availability impacts could disrupt critical services, especially in telecommunications and automotive sectors where Snapdragon platforms are integral. The vulnerability’s requirement for local privilege means that attackers might leverage other attack vectors to gain initial access before exploiting this flaw to escalate privileges or persist undetected. Industries such as telecommunications, automotive manufacturing, smart city infrastructure, and healthcare IoT in Europe could face operational disruptions or data loss. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value assets or critical infrastructure, amplifying geopolitical risks. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation, but the broad affected product range and high severity necessitate urgent action.

1. Monitor Qualcomm and device manufacturers for official patches or firmware updates addressing CVE-2025-27053 and apply them promptly across all affected devices. 2. Restrict local access to devices with vulnerable Snapdragon chipsets by enforcing strict physical security controls and limiting administrative privileges. 3. Implement robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring and alerting on anomalous TA command processing or memory corruption indicators. 4. For enterprise environments, enforce network segmentation to isolate critical devices and reduce the risk of lateral movement by attackers with local access. 5. Conduct thorough inventory and asset management to identify all devices incorporating affected Snapdragon platforms, including IoT and embedded systems. 6. Engage with vendors and suppliers to confirm patch availability and deployment timelines for embedded Snapdragon devices in automotive and industrial contexts. 7. Educate security teams about the specific nature of this vulnerability to improve incident response readiness for potential exploitation attempts. 8. Where patches are unavailable, consider temporary mitigations such as disabling vulnerable features or limiting TA command interfaces if feasible. 9. Regularly audit device firmware versions and configurations to ensure compliance with security policies addressing this vulnerability. 10. Collaborate with industry groups and CERTs to share intelligence and best practices for mitigating Snapdragon chipset vulnerabilities.