External risk intelligence

Qualcomm Chipsets Vulnerability Allows Data Corruption.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2025-27038

A memory corruption vulnerability impacts Qualcomm chipsets when rendering graphics in Chrome. This could lead to data corruption, affecting system integrity and posing a business risk to organizations utilizing affected hardware. Mitigation guidance is available from Qualcomm.

1Halo Surface Signal

Use After Free

Qualcomm Ar8031 Firmware

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2025-27038

This vulnerability resides within Adreno GPU drivers used by specific chipsets for graphics rendering in applications like Chrome. These drivers are low-level, hardware-specific components rather than network services or internet-facing gateways. They are not designed to be directly reachable over the public internet, making the exposed surface essentially local to the device.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Qualcomm chipsets are vulnerable due to memory corruption issues within the Adreno GPU drivers. This flaw can lead to unauthorized data access or modification. The impact can disrupt operations and compromise sensitive information.

  • Vulnerable graphics drivers
  • Memory corruption flaw
  • Data compromise and disruption

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

A memory corruption vulnerability exists within Qualcomm Adreno GPU drivers used for graphics rendering in Chrome. This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to gain control over affected systems. The attack involves a specific sequence of actions that leverage the rendering process to trigger the memory corruption.

  • Exposure condition: Network access to vulnerable systems.
  • Attacker starting point: Unauthenticated attacker.
  • Trigger and result: Malicious input leads to memory corruption and system control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow attackers to corrupt memory while graphics are being rendered by Adreno GPU drivers within Chrome. Successful exploitation may lead to significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The required conditions for exploitation involve user interaction, suggesting a targeted approach. Given its inclusion on the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, organizations should prioritize addressing this issue.

  • Attacker skill level: Low
  • Required access or conditions: User interaction needed
  • Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The identified memory corruption vulnerability impacts Qualcomm chipsets when rendering graphics in Chrome. This could lead to the compromise of systems and data. Organizations should prioritize addressing this risk to protect their assets and maintain business operations.

  • Identify all affected Qualcomm chipsets.
  • Isolate or reduce exposure of affected systems.
  • Apply vendor fixes, verify, and monitor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the nature of the vulnerability affecting Qualcomm chipsets, and what type of weakness does it involve?

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-27038, is a memory corruption issue occurring while rendering graphics using Adreno GPU drivers in Chrome. It is classified under CWE-416, which denotes a use-after-free weakness.

How can an attacker exploit this memory corruption vulnerability in Qualcomm chipsets?

Exploitation of this vulnerability may involve triggering memory corruption during graphics rendering by a malicious actor. The specific attack vector requires user interaction through a vulnerable application, such as Chrome, to initiate the process.

What is the potential impact of this Qualcomm chipset vulnerability on affected systems?

The vulnerability has the potential to lead to significant data corruption due to memory corruption. This could impact the integrity and availability of data processed by the affected Qualcomm chipsets.

How can organizations and individuals mitigate the risks associated with the Qualcomm Adreno GPU driver vulnerability?

Mitigation involves applying specific patches and updates provided by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. Organizations should follow vendor instructions and relevant security guidance to address the vulnerability.

What is the relevance of CVE-2025-27038 to device security and graphics processing?

This vulnerability highlights a critical security flaw in Qualcomm's Adreno GPU drivers, affecting the secure rendering of graphics. Its presence underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date drivers and software for devices utilizing these chipsets.

References