CVE-2025-54331 in Mobile Processor Exynos
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2025
An issue was discovered in NPU in Samsung Mobile Processor Exynos 1380 through July 2025. There is an Untrusted Pointer Dereference of src_hdr in the copy_ncp_header function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-54331 resides within the Neural Processing Unit of Samsung's Exynos 1380 mobile processor, affecting devices through July 2025. This issue represents a critical security flaw that manifests in the copy_ncp_header function where an untrusted pointer dereference occurs at the src_hdr location. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input parameters before pointer operations, creating a potential pathway for malicious code execution within the processor's neural processing subsystem. The NPU operates as a specialized hardware component designed to accelerate machine learning workloads, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise mobile device security through hardware-level exploits.
The technical flaw constitutes a classic untrusted pointer dereference vulnerability classified under CWE-476, where the src_hdr parameter lacks proper validation before being dereferenced. This condition allows an attacker to manipulate the pointer value through crafted input data, potentially redirecting execution flow or accessing unauthorized memory regions. The copy_ncp_header function appears to handle header copying operations for neural processing commands, but fails to validate that the source header pointer points to legitimate memory locations within the processor's address space. When an attacker supplies malicious input that manipulates the src_hdr pointer, the processor may attempt to dereference a location that either contains invalid data or points to memory areas that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it enables potential privilege escalation within the NPU's execution context. Since the NPU operates with elevated privileges to process machine learning workloads, successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the neural processing unit itself. This creates a significant risk for mobile devices where the NPU handles sensitive operations including facial recognition, voice processing, and other security-critical AI functions. The vulnerability could be exploited through malicious applications or compromised machine learning models that are processed through the affected processor, potentially leading to complete device compromise or data exfiltration. Attackers could leverage this flaw to bypass security mechanisms that rely on neural processing for authentication or encryption operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-54331 should focus on both software and firmware level protections, with immediate firmware updates from Samsung addressing the pointer validation issue in the copy_ncp_header function. The fix should implement proper input validation to ensure that src_hdr pointers reference valid memory regions before any dereference operations occur, aligning with defensive programming principles and secure coding practices. Organizations should also consider runtime protections such as pointer integrity checks and memory access controls that can detect and prevent unauthorized pointer manipulation attempts. Additionally, implementing sandboxing techniques for neural processing operations and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure hardware design principles and demonstrates how even specialized processing units require rigorous security testing to prevent exploitation through memory corruption vulnerabilities that could compromise the entire device security architecture.