CVE-2025-27042 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2025
Memory corruption while processing video packets received from video firmware.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue that occurs during the processing of video packets originating from video firmware components. The flaw manifests when the system handles incoming video data streams, specifically within the firmware layer responsible for video packet interpretation and forwarding to higher-level processing modules. The memory corruption vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and buffer management within the video processing pipeline, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate video firmware data streams to trigger unintended memory behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of video packet structures during firmware communication channels. When video firmware sends packets containing malformed or unexpected data patterns, the receiving system fails to properly validate packet boundaries and memory allocation parameters. This leads to potential buffer overflows, memory leaks, or arbitrary memory corruption that can compromise system stability and security. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the firmware level, where traditional software security controls may be insufficient or absent. The flaw aligns with common weakness patterns documented in CWE-121, which addresses stack buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap buffer overflow scenarios. Attackers could exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code within the video processing context or cause denial of service conditions that disrupt video streaming capabilities.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially enable broader compromise of video processing systems. The memory corruption can lead to system crashes, video stream interruptions, or unauthorized code execution within the firmware environment. In enterprise settings where video firmware components control critical surveillance, communication, or multimedia systems, this vulnerability could result in significant service disruption and potential data exposure. The attack surface is particularly wide given that video firmware operates across various networked devices including cameras, video servers, multimedia processors, and embedded systems where firmware-level security controls are often minimal. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting firmware interfaces to establish persistent access points within video processing infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms at all levels of the video packet processing pipeline. Firmware updates and patches should address the specific buffer handling flaws while incorporating defensive programming practices such as bounds checking, memory allocation validation, and proper error handling procedures. Network segmentation and monitoring of video firmware communications can help detect anomalous packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular firmware security assessments should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities across video processing components. System administrators should implement strict access controls for firmware interfaces and establish monitoring protocols to detect system instability or unexpected behavior in video processing modules. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor video firmware communications can provide early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of firmware security hardening and proper memory management practices in embedded video processing systems, emphasizing that security controls must be implemented at all layers of the system architecture rather than relying solely on higher-level software protections.