CVE-2025-27060 is a vulnerability identified in Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms characterized by an untrusted pointer dereference (CWE-822) that leads to memory corruption when performing Secure Channel Manager (SCM) calls with malformed inputs. SCM calls are critical for secure communication between the application processor and secure world in Qualcomm’s TrustZone architecture. The flaw arises because the system does not properly validate or sanitize pointers passed during these SCM calls, allowing an attacker to supply crafted inputs that cause the system to dereference invalid or malicious pointers. This results in memory corruption, which can be exploited to escalate privileges, execute arbitrary code, or cause denial of service. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Snapdragon platforms, including Immersive Home 214/216/316/318 and multiple QCN series chipsets (IPQ5010, QCN6023, QCN9000 series, etc.), which are widely used in embedded systems, IoT devices, and telecommunications equipment. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the vulnerability’s high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and limited privileges required but no user interaction needed. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability’s nature and affected platforms make it a critical concern for device manufacturers and operators relying on Qualcomm Snapdragon hardware. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-27060 is significant due to the widespread use of Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms in telecommunications infrastructure (e.g., 5G base stations, routers), IoT devices, and consumer electronics. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical communication services, and potential takeover of network devices. This can affect confidentiality by exposing private communications, integrity by allowing manipulation of device operations, and availability by causing device crashes or denial of service. Industries such as telecommunications providers, critical infrastructure operators, and enterprises deploying IoT solutions are particularly vulnerable. The vulnerability’s ability to be exploited locally with limited privileges means insider threats or compromised devices could be leveraged to escalate attacks. Given Europe’s strategic emphasis on secure 5G rollout and IoT adoption, this vulnerability poses a risk to national security and economic stability if exploited at scale.

1. Monitor Qualcomm’s official security advisories and apply patches promptly once released for all affected Snapdragon platforms. 2. Restrict local access to devices running vulnerable Snapdragon platforms by enforcing strict access controls and network segmentation to limit potential attackers. 3. Employ runtime protection mechanisms such as memory protection and pointer sanitization where possible to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. 4. Conduct thorough security audits of devices using affected chipsets, especially in telecom and IoT environments, to identify and isolate vulnerable systems. 5. Implement anomaly detection and monitoring for unusual SCM call patterns or memory corruption indicators to detect exploitation attempts early. 6. Collaborate with device manufacturers and vendors to ensure timely firmware updates and secure configuration management. 7. Educate internal teams about the risks of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities and enforce least privilege principles to reduce attack surface.