CVE-2025-27038 Overview
CVE-2025-27038 is a use-after-free memory corruption vulnerability ([CWE-416]) in Qualcomm Adreno GPU drivers triggered when rendering graphics in Chrome. The flaw affects a broad range of Qualcomm chipsets and firmware, including Snapdragon mobile platforms, FastConnect, and various WCN, WCD, and WSA components. CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. Successful exploitation can lead to memory corruption within the GPU driver context, potentially enabling code execution, privilege escalation, or denial of service on affected Android devices and other Qualcomm-based platforms.
Critical Impact
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Attackers can trigger memory corruption in the Adreno GPU driver through malicious web content rendered in Chrome, compromising device confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected Products
- Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms (Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, 6 Gen 1, 680 4G, 685 4G, W5+ Gen 1)
- Qualcomm FastConnect 7800, QCA2066, QCA6391, and related connectivity firmware
- Qualcomm WCN, WCD, WSA, and CSRA audio/wireless firmware families
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-03 - CVE-2025-27038 published to NVD
- 2025-06-03 - Qualcomm publishes June 2025 Security Bulletin with patches
- 2025-10-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-27038
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a use-after-free condition ([CWE-416]) inside the Adreno GPU driver code path invoked during graphics rendering in Chrome. When Chrome renders certain graphics workloads through the GPU process, the driver dereferences memory that has already been freed. This creates a window in which an attacker controlling adjacent allocations can corrupt driver state. Because the Adreno driver runs in a privileged kernel context on Android, memory corruption here crosses a sandbox boundary from the renderer or GPU process into the kernel. The flaw requires user interaction, typically loading attacker-controlled web content, and exploitation involves higher attack complexity. CISA KEV listing indicates that working exploit chains exist in the wild against this issue.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper object lifetime management within the Adreno GPU kernel driver. A driver object is freed while a reference to it remains reachable through another code path. Subsequent operations dereference the stale pointer, allowing reuse of the freed allocation by attacker-controlled data. Qualcomm has not published source-level details of the affected function.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based via malicious web content rendered through Chrome on a vulnerable Qualcomm device. An attacker hosts a crafted page that issues specific WebGL or graphics API calls, causing the Adreno driver to enter the vulnerable code path. The victim must visit the page or interact with the malicious content. No authentication is required. Verified exploit code is not publicly available; refer to the Qualcomm June 2025 Security Bulletin and CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog for technical and operational details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27038
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or kernel panics in kgsl or Adreno GPU driver modules on Qualcomm-based Android devices.
- Chrome GPU process crashes correlated with visits to untrusted web content.
- Anomalous privilege escalation events originating from the Chrome renderer or GPU process.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Android device logs (logcat, dmesg) for repeated GPU driver faults, NULL pointer dereferences, or SELinux denials involving kgsl.
- Correlate browser process crash telemetry with URL visit history to identify exploitation attempts.
- Use mobile threat defense and EDR telemetry to flag post-exploitation behavior such as unexpected child processes or new persistence on managed devices.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track firmware and patch level across the fleet against the Qualcomm June 2025 Security Bulletin baseline.
- Alert on devices that fail to apply the vendor security patch level (SPL) within the organization's defined patch SLA.
- Watch CISA KEV updates and threat intelligence feeds for new exploit chains targeting Adreno GPU drivers.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27038
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the firmware updates referenced in the Qualcomm June 2025 Security Bulletin to all affected devices.
- Ensure mobile devices receive the corresponding Android vendor patch level from the OEM (Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, etc.).
- Update Chrome to the latest stable version on all managed Android devices.
- Prioritize patching for devices subject to CISA Binding Operational Directive 22-01 timelines, given KEV status.
Patch Information
Qualcomm released fixes in the June 2025 Security Bulletin. OEMs integrate the corrected Adreno GPU driver into their monthly security patch level. Verify that affected devices report a security patch level of June 2025 or later, and confirm that the OEM has shipped the Qualcomm component update for the specific chipset in use.
Workarounds
- Restrict browsing to trusted sites on unpatched devices and disable hardware-accelerated WebGL where feasible.
- Enforce mobile device management (MDM) policies that block non-compliant devices from accessing sensitive corporate resources until patched.
- Deploy mobile threat defense agents to detect exploitation attempts and post-compromise behavior on Qualcomm-based endpoints.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
