CVE-2022-25743 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2022
Memory corruption in graphics due to use-after-free while importing graphics buffer in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, mobile, and IoT devices. The flaw manifests as a use-after-free condition during the graphics buffer import process, which occurs when memory that has been freed is still being accessed or referenced by subsequent operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Qualcomm's hardware platforms including the Snapdragon Auto for automotive applications, Snapdragon Compute for edge computing, Snapdragon Connectivity for networking devices, and various consumer and industrial IoT solutions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory management during graphics buffer handling operations within the Snapdragon hardware ecosystem. When graphics buffers are imported into the system, the memory management subsystem fails to properly track the lifecycle of allocated memory regions, leading to scenarios where freed memory blocks are accessed by graphics processing units or related components. This condition creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution or system instability as the memory layout becomes corrupted and unpredictable. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple hardware generations and product categories within Qualcomm's portfolio, suggesting a systemic issue in the memory management implementation across their graphics processing pipelines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous device categories and deployment scenarios where Snapdragon processors are utilized. Automotive systems using Snapdragon Auto platforms could face critical safety implications if the memory corruption leads to display failures or control system malfunctions during vehicle operation. Mobile devices and wearables running on Snapdragon Mobile and Wearables processors may experience unexpected application crashes, system reboots, or potentially more severe compromises if exploited by malicious actors. Industrial IoT deployments using Snapdragon Industrial IOT platforms could suffer from operational disruptions in critical infrastructure monitoring or control systems. The vulnerability's presence across these diverse product lines indicates that exploitation could affect millions of devices globally, making it a significant concern for both manufacturers and end users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from device manufacturers and system integrators. The primary approach involves implementing proper memory management practices including enhanced bounds checking, proper memory deallocation protocols, and comprehensive testing of graphics buffer import operations. System updates and firmware patches should be deployed immediately to address the underlying memory management flaws in the Snapdragon hardware platforms. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or system instability indicators that could signal exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and memory protection mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 and potential exploitation patterns align with tactics described in the attack framework, particularly those involving memory corruption exploitation techniques that leverage use-after-free conditions to achieve privilege escalation or code execution.