CVE-2022-25663 in Snapdragon Compute
Summary
by MITRE • 10/19/2022
Possible buffer overflow due to lack of buffer length check during management frame Rx handling lead to denial of service in Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the management frame reception handling mechanism of Qualcomm Snapdragon-based devices. The flaw occurs when the system processes incoming management frames without proper validation of buffer lengths, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged for denial of service attacks. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, and Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity platforms, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's embedded processor ecosystem. The root cause aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory regions, and specifically relates to CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities in heap-based buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a fundamental flaw in the wireless communication stack of affected devices. Management frames are critical components of wireless network protocols, particularly in wlan environments where they handle authentication, association, and beacon management operations. When these frames are processed without proper buffer length validation, an attacker can craft malicious management frames that trigger the overflow condition, potentially causing the device to crash or become unresponsive. This vulnerability can be exploited through wireless means, making it particularly dangerous in environments where devices are exposed to untrusted wireless networks. The attack surface encompasses any device running affected Snapdragon chipsets that process wireless management frames, including smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, and embedded systems.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1059.007, which involves command and script injection through wireless protocols. The vulnerability enables an attacker to maintain persistent denial of service conditions that could disrupt network connectivity for extended periods, particularly affecting devices that rely on continuous wireless communication for critical operations. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly attractive to threat actors targeting mobile and IoT environments. Organizations deploying affected Snapdragon-based devices should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader wireless security posture, particularly in environments where device availability is critical for operations.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve firmware and software updates from Qualcomm, which should address the buffer length validation checks during management frame processing. System administrators should prioritize deployment of patches as soon as they become available, as the vulnerability represents a persistent risk that can be exploited without user interaction. Network segmentation and monitoring of wireless traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts, though these measures do not prevent the underlying vulnerability. Additionally, implementing wireless intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed management frames may provide early warning of attempted exploitation, though such solutions remain reactive rather than preventive. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper bounds checking in wireless protocol implementations and serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations required in embedded wireless communication stacks.