CVE-2025-27056 in Snapdragon Compute
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2025
Memory corruption during sub-system restart while processing clean-up to free up resources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue that occurs during system sub-system restart operations when the system attempts to process clean-up routines to free up allocated resources. The flaw manifests specifically during the resource deallocation phase of system restart procedures, where improper memory management leads to unpredictable behavior and potential system instability. The vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of memory pointers and resource references during the termination sequence of subsystem components, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to compromise system integrity. This type of vulnerability typically arises when developers fail to properly validate memory states or when cleanup routines do not account for all possible execution paths during system shutdown or restart operations. The memory corruption can manifest as buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that may result in system crashes, data corruption, or potentially arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation and exploitation vector.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-122, which deals with buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-416, which addresses use-after-free errors. The flaw occurs during system restart operations when subsystem components transition from active to inactive states while attempting to release allocated memory resources. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of memory management in multi-threaded or multi-process systems where cleanup operations must properly handle concurrent access to shared resources and ensure that all memory references are properly invalidated before deallocation. The timing aspect of this vulnerability is crucial as it only manifests during specific system operations rather than during normal runtime execution, making it particularly challenging to detect and reproduce in testing environments. The memory corruption can potentially be leveraged to execute malicious code by overwriting critical system memory locations or by manipulating pointers to redirect execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially enable sophisticated attack scenarios that could compromise system security and availability. During system restart operations, if an attacker can influence the timing or conditions under which the cleanup process occurs, they may be able to trigger the memory corruption in a controlled manner to achieve arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where system restarts occur frequently or where automated restart procedures are common, as it increases the attack surface and potential exploitation windows. The vulnerability can affect various system components including kernel modules, device drivers, or application frameworks that rely on proper resource management during system transitions. Organizations running systems with vulnerable software may experience unexpected system crashes, data loss, or service interruptions that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure. The vulnerability may also impact system reliability and availability in mission-critical environments where unexpected restarts or failures could have severe operational consequences.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust memory management practices and strengthening the resource cleanup procedures during system restart operations. System administrators should prioritize applying vendor patches and updates as soon as they become available, as these typically address the underlying memory corruption issues through proper pointer validation and resource handling mechanisms. The implementation of memory safety features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap integrity checks can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify unusual restart patterns or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory management practices during system transitions can help identify similar vulnerabilities in custom or legacy software components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those recommended by the CERT/CC and NIST for preventing memory corruption vulnerabilities in system software components. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and system hardening measures can reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts by limiting the privileges available to potentially compromised system components.