CVE-2025-21463 Overview
CVE-2025-21463 is a transient denial-of-service vulnerability affecting a wide range of Qualcomm WLAN chipsets and platforms. The flaw resides in the firmware logic that parses the Extremely High Throughput (EHT) operation Information Element (IE) within received Wi-Fi beacon frames. An adjacent attacker broadcasting a malformed beacon can trigger a buffer over-read [CWE-126], causing the wireless stack to crash. The vulnerability impacts Snapdragon mobile platforms, FastConnect Wi-Fi modules, IPQ networking chipsets, and automotive and IoT platforms. Qualcomm addressed the issue in its June 2025 Security Bulletin.
Critical Impact
A remote attacker within Wi-Fi range can disrupt connectivity on affected Qualcomm-based devices by transmitting crafted 802.11be beacon frames, with no authentication or user interaction required.
Affected Products
- Qualcomm FastConnect 6700, 6900, and 7800 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth subsystems
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 8 Gen 3, and 8+ Gen 2 Mobile Platforms
- Qualcomm IPQ, QCN, and WCN series networking and connectivity chipsets
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-03 - CVE-2025-21463 published to NVD
- 2025-11-28 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-21463
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the WLAN firmware path responsible for parsing the EHT operation IE inside 802.11be beacon frames. The EHT operation element conveys configuration parameters for Wi-Fi 7 operation, including channel width, MCS support, and PPE thresholds. When the firmware encounters a beacon containing a malformed EHT operation IE, the parser reads memory beyond the bounds of the declared element buffer, classified under CWE-126 (Buffer Over-read).
The over-read corrupts processing state and causes the WLAN subsystem to enter a fault condition. The result is a transient denial of service, with the wireless interface dropping its association and requiring reinitialization. Confidentiality and integrity are not affected, but availability of network connectivity is interrupted for the duration of the recovery cycle.
Root Cause
The parser does not validate the declared length of the EHT operation IE against the actual frame buffer before reading subfields. An attacker can supply length or option-presence fields that cause the parser to dereference memory past the legitimate element boundary, producing the over-read.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires only that the target device be scanning for or associated with Wi-Fi networks within the attacker's broadcast range. Because beacon frames are processed before any authentication occurs, no credentials, prior access, or user interaction are required. An attacker operating a rogue access point or beacon injector can repeatedly transmit crafted frames to maintain a sustained DoS condition against nearby Snapdragon, FastConnect, or IPQ-equipped devices.
// No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available for CVE-2025-21463.
// Refer to the Qualcomm June 2025 Security Bulletin for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-21463
Indicators of Compromise
- Repeated WLAN subsystem crashes, firmware restarts, or wlan driver reload events on Snapdragon-based endpoints
- Sudden disconnects from Wi-Fi networks coinciding with the presence of unknown beacon SSIDs broadcasting Wi-Fi 7 (EHT) capabilities
- Kernel or HAL logs referencing EHT operation IE parsing failures or buffer faults
Detection Strategies
- Monitor over-the-air traffic with a Wi-Fi 7 capable sniffer for beacon frames containing malformed or oversized EHT operation IEs (Element ID 255, Extension ID 106).
- Correlate device-side WLAN crash telemetry with the appearance of new BSSIDs broadcasting EHT-capable beacons in the area.
- Track repeated 802.11 deauthentication or disassociation patterns on managed mobile and IoT fleets.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable mobile device management (MDM) telemetry to surface firmware crash reports and connectivity loss events on Qualcomm-based devices.
- Deploy wireless intrusion detection (WIDS) sensors in environments hosting Wi-Fi 7 access points to identify anomalous beacon transmitters.
- Aggregate WLAN driver logs into a centralized analytics platform to detect clusters of EHT IE parsing failures across endpoints.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-21463
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the firmware updates referenced in the Qualcomm June 2025 Security Bulletin to all affected Snapdragon, FastConnect, IPQ, QCN, and WCN platforms.
- Coordinate with OEMs and carriers to confirm downstream patch availability for mobile handsets, automotive ECUs, and IoT devices.
- Inventory devices by chipset to identify exposure across mobile, networking, and embedded estates.
Patch Information
Qualcomm published fixes for CVE-2025-21463 in the June 2025 Security Bulletin. Patches are distributed through OEM firmware updates; end users must obtain the corrected WLAN firmware from their device vendor. Snapdragon mobile platforms typically receive the fix through Android security patch levels aligned to the June 2025 bulletin.
Workarounds
- Disable Wi-Fi on affected devices when operating in untrusted RF environments until patches are deployed.
- Restrict managed devices to known, trusted SSIDs using enterprise Wi-Fi profiles to limit exposure to rogue beacons.
- Where feasible, disable Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) operation and fall back to 802.11ax on managed access points and clients until firmware is updated.
# Example: disable Wi-Fi temporarily on Android devices via ADB during remediation
adb shell svc wifi disable
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
