CVE-2025-47398: CWE-416 Use After Free in Qualcomm, Inc. Snapdragon
Memory Corruption while deallocating graphics processing unit memory buffers due to improper handling of memory pointers.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-47398 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 that affects numerous Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms and associated hardware components. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory pointers during the deallocation process of graphics processing unit (GPU) memory buffers. When memory buffers are freed incorrectly, it can lead to memory corruption, which attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause denial of service. The affected products span a wide range of Snapdragon mobile platforms, FastConnect wireless subsystems, robotics platforms, wearable platforms, and various Qualcomm chipsets used in smartphones, IoT devices, and embedded systems. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits have been reported, the vulnerability's nature allows an attacker with local access to potentially gain full control over the affected device by exploiting memory corruption in GPU buffer management. This can lead to unauthorized data access, system instability, or persistent compromise. The broad range of affected versions and platforms underscores the criticality of this vulnerability in the Qualcomm ecosystem.
Potential Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-47398 is significant due to the widespread deployment of affected Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms in mobile devices, IoT devices, wearables, and embedded systems globally. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of device confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers with local access could execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially bypassing security controls and gaining persistent access. This could result in data theft, unauthorized surveillance, device manipulation, or denial of service. For organizations, this vulnerability poses risks to mobile workforce security, IoT infrastructure reliability, and critical embedded systems in sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare, automotive, and industrial automation. The lack of user interaction requirement facilitates stealthy exploitation once local access is obtained. The extensive list of affected products increases the attack surface, making patch management and mitigation challenging. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to widespread exploitation in targeted attacks or malware campaigns once exploit code becomes available.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Monitor Qualcomm's official channels for security advisories and promptly apply patches or firmware updates addressing CVE-2025-47398 as they become available. 2. Restrict local access to devices running affected Snapdragon platforms by enforcing strong physical security controls and limiting administrative privileges. 3. Employ runtime memory protection technologies such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), Control Flow Integrity (CFI), and memory-safe programming practices in custom firmware or applications interacting with GPU buffers. 4. Implement strict input validation and error handling in software components managing GPU memory to reduce the risk of triggering the vulnerability. 5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous memory corruption behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. For organizations deploying IoT or embedded devices with affected hardware, segment networks and apply strict access controls to minimize exposure. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation vectors to identify potential exploitation paths. 8. Educate users and administrators about the risks of granting local access and the importance of timely updates.
Affected Countries
United States, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Russia, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore
CVE-2025-47398: CWE-416 Use After Free in Qualcomm, Inc. Snapdragon
Description
Memory Corruption while deallocating graphics processing unit memory buffers due to improper handling of memory pointers.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-47398 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 that affects numerous Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms and associated hardware components. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory pointers during the deallocation process of graphics processing unit (GPU) memory buffers. When memory buffers are freed incorrectly, it can lead to memory corruption, which attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause denial of service. The affected products span a wide range of Snapdragon mobile platforms, FastConnect wireless subsystems, robotics platforms, wearable platforms, and various Qualcomm chipsets used in smartphones, IoT devices, and embedded systems. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits have been reported, the vulnerability's nature allows an attacker with local access to potentially gain full control over the affected device by exploiting memory corruption in GPU buffer management. This can lead to unauthorized data access, system instability, or persistent compromise. The broad range of affected versions and platforms underscores the criticality of this vulnerability in the Qualcomm ecosystem.
Potential Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-47398 is significant due to the widespread deployment of affected Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms in mobile devices, IoT devices, wearables, and embedded systems globally. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of device confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers with local access could execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially bypassing security controls and gaining persistent access. This could result in data theft, unauthorized surveillance, device manipulation, or denial of service. For organizations, this vulnerability poses risks to mobile workforce security, IoT infrastructure reliability, and critical embedded systems in sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare, automotive, and industrial automation. The lack of user interaction requirement facilitates stealthy exploitation once local access is obtained. The extensive list of affected products increases the attack surface, making patch management and mitigation challenging. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to widespread exploitation in targeted attacks or malware campaigns once exploit code becomes available.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Monitor Qualcomm's official channels for security advisories and promptly apply patches or firmware updates addressing CVE-2025-47398 as they become available. 2. Restrict local access to devices running affected Snapdragon platforms by enforcing strong physical security controls and limiting administrative privileges. 3. Employ runtime memory protection technologies such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), Control Flow Integrity (CFI), and memory-safe programming practices in custom firmware or applications interacting with GPU buffers. 4. Implement strict input validation and error handling in software components managing GPU memory to reduce the risk of triggering the vulnerability. 5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous memory corruption behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. For organizations deploying IoT or embedded devices with affected hardware, segment networks and apply strict access controls to minimize exposure. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation vectors to identify potential exploitation paths. 8. Educate users and administrators about the risks of granting local access and the importance of timely updates.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- qualcomm
- Date Reserved
- 2025-05-06T08:33:16.276Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6980c319f9fa50a62f48b5f0
Added to database: 2/2/2026, 3:30:33 PM
Last enriched: 2/27/2026, 7:28:56 AM
Last updated: 3/19/2026, 8:29:18 PM
Views: 56
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