CVE-2025-47381 Overview
CVE-2025-47381 is a Use-After-Free (UAF) memory corruption vulnerability affecting multiple Qualcomm chipset firmware implementations. The vulnerability occurs during IOCTL (Input/Output Control) call processing when concurrent access to a shared buffer creates a race condition, allowing an attacker with local access to potentially execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause system instability.
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free), which occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after it has been freed. In the context of Qualcomm firmware, this manifests during IOCTL handler operations where multiple threads or processes attempt to access the same memory buffer simultaneously without proper synchronization.
Critical Impact
Local attackers with low privileges can exploit this Use-After-Free condition to achieve code execution with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected automotive and IoT systems.
Affected Products
- Qualcomm Lemans AU LGIT Firmware
- Qualcomm LemansAU Firmware
- Qualcomm QAM8255P Firmware
- Qualcomm QAMSRV1H/QAMSRV1M Firmware
- Qualcomm QCA6574/QCA6574A/QCA6574AU Firmware
- Qualcomm QCA6595/QCA6595AU Firmware
- Qualcomm QCA6688AQ/QCA6696 Firmware
- Qualcomm QCA9367/QCA9377 Firmware
- Qualcomm SA6155P/SA7255P/SA7775P Firmware
- Qualcomm SA8155P/SA8195P/SA8255P Firmware
- Qualcomm SA8620P/SA8770P/SA9000P Firmware
- Qualcomm SRV1H/SRV1M Firmware
Discovery Timeline
- March 2, 2026 - CVE-2025-47381 published to NVD
- March 4, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-47381
Vulnerability Analysis
The Use-After-Free vulnerability in CVE-2025-47381 represents a significant security concern for embedded automotive and IoT systems utilizing Qualcomm chipsets. The flaw exists within the IOCTL processing subsystem, where shared buffers are used for communication between user-space applications and kernel-space drivers.
When concurrent IOCTL calls attempt to access the same shared buffer, a race condition can occur where one thread frees the buffer while another thread still holds a reference to it. Subsequent operations on the stale pointer lead to memory corruption, which attackers can potentially leverage for arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation.
The local attack vector requirement means an attacker would need some form of initial access to the system, but the low privilege requirement and lack of user interaction needed make this vulnerability relatively straightforward to exploit once access is obtained. The impact spans all three security pillars—confidentiality, integrity, and availability—making successful exploitation particularly damaging.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2025-47381 is improper synchronization when handling concurrent access to shared memory buffers during IOCTL operations. The firmware fails to implement adequate locking mechanisms or reference counting to prevent one execution context from freeing memory that another context is actively using.
Specifically, the vulnerability arises from:
- Missing mutex/spinlock protection: Critical sections accessing shared buffers lack proper locking primitives
- Insufficient reference counting: Buffer lifecycle management does not properly track all active references
- Race window exploitation: The timing gap between buffer access check and actual usage allows concurrent free operations
Attack Vector
The attack vector for CVE-2025-47381 requires local access to the affected system. An attacker with low-level privileges can exploit this vulnerability through the following mechanism:
An attacker would craft malicious IOCTL requests designed to trigger the race condition. By timing concurrent IOCTL calls precisely, the attacker can create a scenario where a buffer is freed while still being referenced. The attacker can then manipulate the freed memory region to contain controlled data, leading to arbitrary code execution when the stale pointer is dereferenced.
The vulnerability does not require user interaction, meaning exploitation can occur silently once the attacker has local access. Given that many affected chipsets are used in automotive infotainment systems and industrial IoT devices, successful exploitation could have significant real-world safety implications.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-47381
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected system crashes or kernel panics related to memory access violations in IOCTL handlers
- Anomalous driver behavior patterns indicating memory corruption attempts
- Suspicious process activity attempting rapid sequential IOCTL calls to Qualcomm drivers
- Memory debugging tools flagging Use-After-Free conditions in kernel space
Detection Strategies
- Deploy runtime memory sanitizers such as KASAN (Kernel Address Sanitizer) to detect UAF conditions in development and testing environments
- Implement system call monitoring to detect unusual patterns of IOCTL operations targeting Qualcomm drivers
- Utilize endpoint detection solutions capable of monitoring kernel-level memory operations for exploitation attempts
- Enable kernel integrity verification mechanisms to detect unauthorized modifications resulting from successful exploitation
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor system logs for driver-related crash dumps and memory fault indicators
- Implement anomaly detection for process behavior, particularly applications interacting with Qualcomm device drivers
- Establish baseline IOCTL call patterns and alert on significant deviations
- Deploy firmware integrity monitoring to detect any unauthorized firmware modifications
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-47381
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the Qualcomm March 2026 Security Bulletin for affected product details and available patches
- Inventory all systems utilizing affected Qualcomm chipsets and firmware versions
- Prioritize patching for systems in safety-critical environments such as automotive applications
- Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit local access to vulnerable systems
- Consider disabling non-essential IOCTL interfaces where feasible until patches can be applied
Patch Information
Qualcomm has released security updates addressing CVE-2025-47381 as part of their March 2026 Security Bulletin. Organizations should work with their device manufacturers and OEMs to obtain and apply the appropriate firmware updates for their specific hardware configurations.
Given the wide range of affected chipsets—spanning automotive platforms (SA series, Lemans), wireless connectivity modules (QCA series), and server platforms (SRV series)—patch deployment strategies should be tailored to the specific deployment context and criticality of affected systems.
Workarounds
- Restrict local system access to trusted users and processes only to reduce the attack surface
- Implement mandatory access control policies (such as SELinux) to limit which processes can interact with affected drivers
- Enable kernel hardening features such as ASLR and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult
- Monitor for and block known exploitation techniques targeting Use-After-Free vulnerabilities
# Example: Restrict driver access using Linux permissions
# Identify Qualcomm driver device nodes
ls -la /dev/qcom* /dev/msm*
# Restrict access to root/privileged users only
chmod 600 /dev/qcom*
chown root:root /dev/qcom*
# Enable SELinux enforcement if available
setenforce 1
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
