CVE-2025-59615 in Snapdragon
Summary
by MITRE • 07/06/2026
Memory Corruption when invoking device input/output control operations for mapping and unmapping persistent memory buffers due to improper synchronization.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue that occurs during device input/output control operations specifically related to persistent memory buffer management. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to map and unmap persistent memory buffers through ioctl operations without proper synchronization mechanisms in place. Such operations are fundamental to storage and memory management systems where direct hardware interaction occurs through kernel-level interfaces. The improper synchronization creates a race condition scenario where multiple threads or processes can simultaneously access the same memory buffer regions during mapping and unmapping operations, leading to unpredictable memory state corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate locking mechanisms within the kernel driver code that handles persistent memory operations. When multiple concurrent processes attempt to perform mapping operations on the same buffer or when a buffer is being unmapped while another process is still accessing it, the lack of proper mutual exclusion leads to memory corruption. This type of flaw falls under CWE-362 which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming environments where shared resources are accessed without appropriate synchronization. The vulnerability can be exploited through maliciously crafted ioctl calls that manipulate the timing and sequence of buffer operations to trigger the race condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code within kernel space or cause system crashes and denial of service conditions. When persistent memory buffers are improperly managed during mapping/unmapping sequences, the kernel's memory management subsystem can be destabilized, leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly significant in environments where persistent memory technologies like Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory are utilized, as these systems require extensive buffer management operations that increase the likelihood of triggering this synchronization flaw. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and T1499 which involves data destruction attacks that can leverage memory corruption to destabilize system operations.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate operational fixes and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in future implementations. The primary recommendation involves implementing robust mutex or spinlock mechanisms around all buffer mapping and unmapping operations to ensure exclusive access during critical sections of code execution. Additionally, proper reference counting mechanisms should be employed to track buffer usage and prevent premature unmap operations that could occur while other processes are still accessing the memory region. System administrators should implement kernel security modules like grsecurity or SELinux policies to restrict ioctl access to privileged users only, reducing the attack surface for exploitation attempts. Regular security auditing of kernel drivers through static code analysis tools specifically designed to detect race conditions and synchronization issues is essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases. Organizations utilizing persistent memory technologies should also consider implementing memory integrity checking mechanisms that can detect and prevent corruption during buffer management operations, as specified in industry standards like NIST SP 800-145 for memory protection frameworks.