CVE-2025-21422 Overview
CVE-2025-21422 is a cryptographic vulnerability affecting a broad set of Qualcomm chipsets and firmware components. The flaw arises from missing validation checks in the processing of crypto API calls. Under specific conditions, this can lead to corrupted key usage or initialization vector (IV) reuse during cryptographic operations [CWE-310]. A local, low-privileged attacker can exploit the weakness without user interaction to impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Qualcomm addressed the issue in its July 2025 security bulletin covering hundreds of Snapdragon, FastConnect, WCN, WCD, QCA, and SA-series platforms deployed in mobile, automotive, IoT, compute, and networking devices.
Critical Impact
Missing checks in Qualcomm crypto API handling can cause corrupted key usage or IV reuse, undermining cryptographic guarantees for data confidentiality and integrity on affected devices.
Affected Products
- Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms (Snapdragon 4/6/7/8 Gen series, 845 through 8+ Gen 2, 8 Gen 3)
- Qualcomm FastConnect connectivity (6200, 6700, 6800, 6900, 7800) and QCA Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chipsets
- Qualcomm automotive (SA6xxx/SA7xxx/SA8xxx/QAM series), compute (SC8180X/SC8280XP/SC8380XP), and modem-RF (Snapdragon X24–X75) firmware
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-21422 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-21422
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a cryptographic weakness classified under [CWE-310]. Qualcomm firmware exposes a crypto API used by higher-level components to perform encryption, decryption, and key management. The affected code paths fail to enforce necessary validation checks when processing incoming crypto API calls. As a result, cryptographic operations can proceed with corrupted key material or reused initialization vectors.
IV reuse in modes such as CTR, GCM, or CBC breaks the security assumptions of the underlying algorithm. Reusing an IV under the same key can leak plaintext, allow forgery of authenticated messages, or expose keystream material to attackers who observe multiple ciphertexts. Corrupted key usage similarly undermines confidentiality and integrity guarantees for any data protected by the affected APIs, including secure storage, connectivity payloads, and modem traffic.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing validation on parameters and state passed through the Qualcomm crypto API. Without these checks, the firmware does not detect malformed key handles, unsafe IV values, or inconsistent cryptographic contexts before performing sensitive operations.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access with low privileges on the target device. No user interaction is needed. An attacker running code on the device, such as a malicious application or compromised low-privilege process, can invoke the crypto API in a way that triggers corrupted key usage or IV reuse, then leverage the resulting cryptographic weakness to attack confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected data.
No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2025-21422 at the time of writing. See the Qualcomm Security Bulletin July 2025 for authoritative technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-21422
Indicators of Compromise
- No public indicators of compromise have been published for CVE-2025-21422.
- Vendor advisories do not report in-the-wild exploitation, and the CVE is not listed in CISA KEV.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory devices using the Qualcomm Security Bulletin July 2025 chipset list and compare running firmware versions against patched baselines.
- Monitor mobile and IoT fleets for unauthorized applications making unusual volumes of crypto API calls, especially from low-privileged contexts.
- Track OEM security patch level (SPL) values on Android and automotive devices to confirm the July 2025 or later patch is installed.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enroll affected mobile, automotive, and IoT devices in centralized management to receive vendor firmware updates promptly.
- Log and review privileged access to cryptographic services and key stores on managed endpoints where telemetry is available.
- Alert on device attestation failures or unexpected downgrades in firmware version across the fleet.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-21422
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the firmware updates referenced in the Qualcomm Security Bulletin July 2025 through your device OEM or platform vendor.
- Prioritize patching for mobile handsets, automotive platforms, and always-on IoT devices that process sensitive cryptographic material.
- Restrict installation of untrusted applications on affected devices until patches are deployed.
Patch Information
Qualcomm published fixes for CVE-2025-21422 as part of the July 2025 Security Bulletin. The bulletin covers all listed Snapdragon, FastConnect, QCA, WCN, WCD, WSA, SA/QAM/QCS/QCM, SDX, SM, and SC series firmware. Device OEMs must integrate the Qualcomm patch into their own firmware or Android security patch level (SPL) release before end users receive the fix. Confirm that installed builds include the July 2025 Qualcomm patch component.
Workarounds
- No vendor-supplied workaround exists; firmware update is the only supported remediation.
- Reduce local attack surface by limiting sideloaded applications and restricting debug/developer access on affected devices.
- For managed fleets, enforce mobile device management (MDM) policies that block devices below the July 2025 patch level from accessing sensitive resources.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
