CVE-2022-25697 in Snapdragon Mobile
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2022
Memory corruption in i2c buses due to improper input validation while reading address configuration from i2c driver in Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25697 represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting i2c bus communication within Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wearable devices. This flaw resides in the i2c driver's address configuration reading functionality, where inadequate input validation creates opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory structures. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices utilizing Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wearables chipsets, which are widely deployed in smartphones, tablets, and wearable technology products across numerous manufacturers. The root cause stems from insufficient bounds checking and validation mechanisms when processing address configuration data received through i2c communication protocols, creating potential attack vectors that could lead to system instability or unauthorized code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the i2c driver attempts to read address configuration parameters from external devices connected via i2c buses. Without proper input validation, malformed or oversized address data can cause buffer overflows or memory corruption within the driver's memory space. This memory corruption can potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to unpredictable system behavior including crashes, data corruption, or privilege escalation. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the i2c driver subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect core system operations and device functionality. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious i2c communication packets that trigger the memory corruption when the driver processes these malformed inputs, potentially allowing for arbitrary code execution or system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-25697 extends beyond simple system instability to encompass potential security breaches and device compromise across the Snapdragon ecosystem. Devices affected by this vulnerability may experience unexpected reboots, application crashes, or complete system failures during normal i2c communication operations. More critically, the memory corruption could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to system resources, potentially leading to data theft or persistent backdoor access. Given the widespread deployment of Snapdragon chipsets in mobile and wearable devices, this vulnerability affects millions of end users and creates significant risk for organizations relying on these platforms. The vulnerability's exploitation could be particularly concerning in environments where these devices handle sensitive information or operate in security-critical applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25697 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Qualcomm has released security updates addressing this vulnerability through their regular security patches, which should be deployed immediately on affected devices. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies to ensure all Snapdragon-based devices receive the necessary security updates. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious i2c communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though this requires specialized monitoring tools and knowledge of normal device behavior. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could map to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as exploitation might enable attackers to maintain persistent access to affected devices. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing additional input validation layers and runtime monitoring to detect anomalous i2c communication patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation of this memory corruption flaw.