CVE-2025-21448 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2025
Transient DOS may occur while parsing SSID in action frames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
This vulnerability represents a transient denial of service condition that manifests during the processing of Service Set Identifier information within action frames of wireless communication protocols. The flaw occurs when wireless devices attempt to parse and handle SSID data structures contained in action frames, creating a scenario where legitimate network operations can be disrupted through carefully crafted malformed input sequences.
The technical implementation involves the wireless stack's handling of management frame processing where action frames are received and parsed for their contained SSID elements. When these frames contain malformed or unexpected SSID data structures, the parsing routine fails to properly validate input parameters before proceeding with subsequent processing steps. This parsing failure can cause the wireless device's operating system or firmware to enter an unstable state that results in temporary service disruption.
The operational impact affects wireless network infrastructure and client devices across various IEEE 802.11 compliant systems where action frames are processed as part of normal network operations. The transient nature means that services return to normal operation once the problematic frame is processed or the system resets, but during the disruption period, network connectivity becomes unavailable to affected devices. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise wireless networks and IoT device deployments where automatic reconnection mechanisms may be triggered repeatedly.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-20 Improper Input Validation categories from the Common Weakness Enumeration database, representing a classic case of insufficient validation of input data before processing. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this maps to T1499.003 Network Denial of Service within the Defense Evasion tactic, where adversaries can exploit parsing flaws to disrupt network services. The attack surface includes wireless access points, wireless controllers, and client devices that process action frames containing SSID information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms for all action frame processing routines, including bounds checking and parameter validation before any parsing operations commence. Network administrators should ensure firmware updates are applied to address known vulnerabilities in wireless device implementations. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and frame filtering mechanisms can help reduce the impact of maliciously crafted frames while maintaining legitimate network operations. Regular network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify anomalous action frame patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor parsing flaws in wireless protocols can result in significant service disruption, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive input validation across all network protocol implementations. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their wireless infrastructure components to identify similar vulnerabilities in protocol handling routines and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place for wireless device firmware updates.