CVE-2025-47356 is a double free vulnerability classified under CWE-415, affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon components including FastConnect 6900 and 7800, WCD9378C series, WSA8840 series, and others. The root cause is a race condition where multiple threads concurrently access and modify shared resources without proper synchronization, leading to memory corruption. Double free vulnerabilities occur when the same memory is freed more than once, which can corrupt the heap and enable attackers to manipulate program control flow. This flaw can be exploited locally by an attacker with low privileges (PR:L) and does not require user interaction (UI:N). The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating potential for arbitrary code execution or denial of service. The vulnerability affects embedded systems and mobile devices using these Snapdragon chipsets, which are prevalent in smartphones, IoT devices, and telecommunications infrastructure. No public exploits are known yet, but the complexity of the flaw and the widespread deployment of affected products make it a significant risk. The lack of currently available patches necessitates proactive mitigation strategies. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform is critical in mobile communications, so exploitation could disrupt services or leak sensitive data. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2025 and published in January 2026, indicating a recent discovery and disclosure timeline.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47356 is substantial due to the widespread use of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets in mobile devices, IoT, and telecommunications equipment. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive corporate and personal data, while integrity compromises might allow attackers to alter device behavior or firmware. Availability impacts could result in denial of service, disrupting critical communications and business operations. Telecommunications providers, mobile network operators, and enterprises relying on Snapdragon-powered devices for secure communications are particularly at risk. The vulnerability’s local low-privilege exploitation vector means insider threats or compromised devices could be leveraged to escalate attacks. Disruptions in mobile infrastructure could affect emergency services and critical national infrastructure, amplifying the threat to public safety and economic stability. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation, but the high severity score underscores the urgency for European organizations to prepare defenses. The impact extends beyond consumer devices to embedded systems in industrial and automotive sectors, which increasingly use Snapdragon components, raising concerns about operational technology security.

1. Monitor Qualcomm’s security advisories closely and apply official patches immediately upon release to affected Snapdragon components. 2. Implement strict thread synchronization and concurrency controls in custom firmware or software layers interacting with the affected hardware to prevent race conditions. 3. Employ runtime memory protection mechanisms such as heap integrity checks, use-after-free detection, and address space layout randomization (ASLR) where possible on affected devices. 4. Conduct thorough security audits and code reviews focusing on multi-threaded resource management in embedded software. 5. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous behavior indicative of memory corruption exploits. 6. Restrict local access to sensitive devices and enforce least privilege principles to minimize exploitation opportunities. 7. For organizations managing large fleets of Snapdragon-based devices, implement centralized patch management and vulnerability scanning to ensure timely remediation. 8. Collaborate with device manufacturers and telecom providers to verify firmware integrity and update mechanisms. 9. Educate security teams on recognizing signs of exploitation related to memory corruption and double free vulnerabilities. 10. Consider network segmentation and isolation for critical infrastructure components using affected chipsets to limit lateral movement in case of compromise.