CVE-2025-21459 Overview
CVE-2025-21459 is a transient denial of service (DoS) vulnerability affecting a wide range of Qualcomm chipsets and firmware. The vulnerability occurs during the parsing of per-STA (Station) profile information within Multi-Link Information Elements (ML IE), which are used in Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) communications. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network to cause a temporary service disruption on affected devices without requiring any user interaction or authentication.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability enables remote attackers to cause transient denial of service conditions on affected Qualcomm devices by sending malformed ML IE packets, potentially disrupting wireless connectivity for smartphones, automotive systems, IoT devices, and enterprise networking equipment.
Affected Products
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform and Firmware
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform and Firmware
- Qualcomm FastConnect 6700, 6900, 7800 Connectivity Subsystems
- Qualcomm SA8155P, SA8195P, SA8255P Automotive Platforms
- Qualcomm QCA6574, QCA6595, QCA6696 Wi-Fi Chipsets
- Qualcomm WCN7750, WCN7860, WCN7880 Wireless Connectivity Modules
- Qualcomm Robotics RB5 and Flight RB5 5G Platforms
- Qualcomm Video Collaboration VC3 and VC5 Platforms
Discovery Timeline
- May 6, 2025 - CVE-2025-21459 published to NVD
- August 11, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-21459
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-126 (Buffer Over-read) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read). The flaw exists in the wireless firmware's handling of Multi-Link Information Elements, which are a key component of the IEEE 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) standard enabling multi-link operation across multiple frequency bands.
When parsing per-STA profile information embedded within ML IE structures, the affected firmware fails to properly validate the length or boundaries of the data being processed. This allows an attacker to craft malicious ML IE packets that trigger out-of-bounds read operations, causing the wireless subsystem to enter a transient denial of service state.
The attack can be executed remotely over the network, requires no privileges or user interaction, and primarily impacts the availability of the device while confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected. The transient nature of the DoS means that services may recover after the attack ceases, but sustained attacks could cause prolonged disruption.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when parsing variable-length per-STA profile data within ML IE structures. The parsing function reads beyond allocated buffer boundaries when encountering specially crafted ML IE packets with manipulated length fields or malformed structure, resulting in a buffer over-read condition that causes the wireless subsystem to crash or become unresponsive.
Attack Vector
An attacker within wireless range or with network access to the target device can exploit this vulnerability by transmitting specially crafted Wi-Fi management frames containing malicious ML IE structures. The attack does not require authentication to the wireless network, making it particularly dangerous in public Wi-Fi environments or for automotive and IoT devices with wireless interfaces.
The exploitation flow involves:
- Crafting a Wi-Fi management frame with a malformed Multi-Link Information Element
- Embedding per-STA profile data with invalid length fields or boundary-exceeding content
- Transmitting the malicious frame to devices with vulnerable Qualcomm wireless chipsets
- The vulnerable firmware attempts to parse the ML IE, triggering an out-of-bounds read
- The wireless subsystem crashes or becomes temporarily unresponsive
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-21459
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected wireless subsystem crashes or restarts on affected Qualcomm-based devices
- Unusual patterns of Wi-Fi management frames with malformed ML IE structures in wireless traffic captures
- Repeated wireless connectivity disruptions without apparent environmental interference
- System logs indicating parsing errors or exceptions in WLAN firmware components
Detection Strategies
- Monitor wireless traffic for anomalous ML IE structures with suspicious length fields using wireless intrusion detection systems (WIDS)
- Implement firmware-level logging to capture parsing exceptions in the wireless subsystem
- Deploy network monitoring to detect patterns consistent with DoS attack campaigns targeting Wi-Fi infrastructure
- Use SentinelOne Singularity platform to detect behavioral anomalies on devices experiencing repeated wireless subsystem failures
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on wireless access points and client devices where feasible
- Deploy wireless intrusion prevention systems (WIPS) capable of detecting malformed 802.11be frames
- Monitor device health metrics for signs of wireless subsystem instability across fleet deployments
- Establish baseline wireless connectivity patterns to detect deviations indicative of active exploitation
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-21459
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the Qualcomm Security Bulletin May 2025 for affected product versions and available patches
- Prioritize firmware updates for devices in security-critical deployments (automotive, healthcare, industrial IoT)
- Implement network segmentation to isolate potentially vulnerable wireless devices from untrusted networks
- Consider disabling Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) features temporarily on affected devices if patches are not immediately available
Patch Information
Qualcomm has addressed this vulnerability in the May 2025 security bulletin. Device manufacturers and OEMs should integrate the updated firmware into their products. End users should apply firmware updates through their device manufacturer's standard update channels. For automotive and IoT deployments, coordinate with Qualcomm or your ODM for updated firmware packages.
The patch addresses the buffer over-read condition by implementing proper bounds validation when parsing per-STA profile data within ML IE structures.
Workarounds
- Where supported, disable Wi-Fi 7 multi-link operation features to eliminate the vulnerable code path
- Implement MAC address filtering and strong wireless authentication (WPA3-Enterprise) to limit exposure to untrusted wireless clients
- Deploy affected devices only on trusted networks with wireless intrusion prevention capabilities
- For automotive and IoT deployments, consider network isolation or VPN tunneling to reduce exposure
# Example: Check current firmware version on Android devices (requires ADB access)
adb shell getprop ro.build.fingerprint
adb shell getprop vendor.wlan.driver.version
# Monitor wireless subsystem logs for parsing errors
adb logcat -s wlan | grep -i "parse\|ml_ie\|overflow\|bounds"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
