CVE-2022-25748: Qualcomm WLAN Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2022-25748 Overview

CVE-2022-25748 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability affecting the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) subsystem in a wide range of Qualcomm chipsets. The flaw stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs during the parsing of GTK (Group Temporal Key) frames, which are essential components of the WPA/WPA2 four-way handshake used for wireless network authentication and key management.

When a malicious actor sends specially crafted GTK frames to a vulnerable device, the integer overflow leads to a buffer overflow condition, enabling potential arbitrary code execution or denial of service. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely over a network without requiring any user interaction or prior authentication, making it an attractive target for wireless-based attacks.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability over Wi-Fi networks to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining complete control over affected devices including smartphones, automotive systems, IoT devices, and networking infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platforms (SD660, SD835, SD845, SD855, SD865, SD888, and related series)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon Auto Platforms (SA6155P, SA8155P, SA8195P, SA8295P)
• Qualcomm WLAN Connectivity Chipsets (QCA6174, QCA6390, WCN3990, WCN6750, WCN6850, WCN7850)
• Qualcomm IPQ Networking Processors (IPQ4018, IPQ6018, IPQ8074, IPQ9008)
• Qualcomm MDM/SDX Modem Platforms (MDM9206, SDX55, SDX65)

Discovery Timeline

• October 19, 2022 - CVE CVE-2022-25748 published to NVD
• April 22, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-25748

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound). The WLAN driver in affected Qualcomm chipsets fails to properly validate size parameters when processing GTK frames received during the wireless handshake process. When parsing these frames, an attacker-controlled length field can cause an integer overflow during memory allocation or buffer size calculations.

The integer overflow results in the allocation of a smaller-than-expected buffer, while subsequent data copy operations use the original (larger) size value. This classic integer-overflow-to-buffer-overflow primitive allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, corrupting adjacent memory structures.

Given the network-accessible attack vector and lack of required authentication, this vulnerability poses significant risk across diverse deployment scenarios—from consumer mobile devices to critical automotive and industrial IoT systems.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in insufficient integer bounds checking within the WLAN firmware's GTK frame parsing routines. When the driver receives a GTK frame, it extracts length fields from the frame structure to determine how much memory to allocate for processing. Without proper validation, a maliciously crafted frame with extreme or calculated length values can trigger arithmetic overflow when these values are used in size calculations.

This results in a small memory buffer being allocated while the actual data copy operation writes the full attacker-controlled payload, leading to heap corruption in the WLAN driver context.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed wirelessly by an attacker within radio range of the vulnerable device. The exploitation flow involves:

1. An attacker positions themselves within Wi-Fi range of a target device with vulnerable Qualcomm WLAN chipset
2. The attacker initiates or intercepts a wireless handshake session
3. Maliciously crafted GTK frames with manipulated length fields are transmitted to the target
4. The vulnerable WLAN driver parses the frame, triggering the integer overflow
5. The resulting buffer overflow corrupts heap memory, potentially achieving arbitrary code execution within the WLAN subsystem context

This attack requires no user interaction and bypasses authentication mechanisms, as the vulnerability exists in the pre-authentication handshake processing code.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-25748

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected WLAN driver crashes or device reboots during wireless connectivity operations
• Anomalous wireless traffic patterns with malformed or oversized GTK frames in packet captures
• System logs showing memory corruption errors or kernel panics originating from WLAN driver modules
• Unusual wireless deauthentication sequences followed by connection attempts with abnormal frame sizes

Detection Strategies

• Deploy wireless intrusion detection systems (WIDS) capable of analyzing 802.11 frame structures for anomalous GTK frame parameters
• Monitor device firmware versions and cross-reference against Qualcomm's October 2022 security bulletin for vulnerable chipsets
• Implement network segmentation to isolate critical devices using affected Qualcomm wireless chipsets
• Review system crash logs and memory dump analysis for patterns consistent with heap overflow exploitation

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose WLAN driver logging where available to capture frame parsing events and memory operations
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions that can identify abnormal memory access patterns in wireless subsystems
• Establish baseline wireless traffic analysis to detect deviation in handshake frame characteristics
• Monitor Qualcomm security advisories and device manufacturer update channels for patch availability

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-25748

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all devices in your environment containing affected Qualcomm chipsets by cross-referencing hardware inventories
• Apply firmware updates from device manufacturers that incorporate Qualcomm's security patches from the October 2022 bulletin
• Prioritize patching for internet-facing and publicly accessible wireless devices
• Consider network isolation for unpatched critical devices until patches can be applied

Patch Information

Qualcomm has addressed this vulnerability in their October 2022 Security Bulletin. Device manufacturers receive patches from Qualcomm and are responsible for distributing updates to end users. Users should check with their device manufacturers (smartphone OEMs, automotive suppliers, IoT vendors, networking equipment manufacturers) for specific firmware updates addressing CVE-2022-25748.

For detailed patch information, refer to the Qualcomm Security Bulletin - October 2022.

Workarounds

• Disable Wi-Fi connectivity on affected devices when not actively required, particularly in high-risk environments
• Use wired network connections where feasible for devices that support Ethernet as an alternative to vulnerable wireless interfaces
• Implement MAC address filtering and robust WPA3 security configurations to limit exposure, though these do not fully mitigate the vulnerability
• Deploy network access control (NAC) solutions to restrict wireless network access to known and trusted devices

# Example: Disable wireless interface on Linux-based IoT device as temporary mitigation
# This prevents exploitation but removes wireless connectivity
ip link set wlan0 down
# Alternatively, blacklist the wireless driver module
echo "blacklist qcacld" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf