CVE-2025-59600: Qualcomm Fastconnect 6200 Buffer Overflow

CVE-2025-59600 Overview

CVE-2025-59600 is a buffer over-read vulnerability affecting a wide range of Qualcomm chipset firmware. The vulnerability occurs when user-supplied data is added to a buffer without first checking whether sufficient space is available, leading to memory corruption. This type of flaw can potentially allow an attacker with local access to read sensitive information from memory or cause system instability.

Critical Impact

Local attackers with low privileges can exploit this memory corruption vulnerability to potentially achieve arbitrary code execution, information disclosure, or denial of service on affected Qualcomm-powered devices.

Affected Products

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platforms
• Qualcomm FastConnect 6200, 6700, 6900, and 7800 Firmware
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 460/480/662/680/685/695 Mobile Platforms
• Qualcomm SA/QCM/QCS Automotive and IoT Chipsets
• Qualcomm WCN/WCD Audio and Connectivity Chipsets
• Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G and AR1 Gen 1 Platforms

Discovery Timeline

• March 2, 2026 - CVE-2025-59600 published to NVD
• March 3, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-59600

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-126 (Buffer Over-read), a memory corruption flaw that occurs when firmware code reads beyond the boundaries of an allocated buffer. The vulnerability manifests when processing user-supplied data without proper bounds checking. A local attacker with low-level privileges can exploit this condition to read adjacent memory regions that may contain sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other privileged information stored in device memory.

The attack requires local access to the affected device, though no user interaction is needed once an attacker has established a foothold. Given the extensive list of affected Qualcomm chipsets spanning mobile platforms, automotive systems, IoT devices, wearables, and XR/AR platforms, successful exploitation could have far-reaching consequences across consumer electronics and automotive ecosystems.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient input validation when handling user-supplied data in affected firmware components. The code fails to verify that the destination buffer has adequate space before copying or processing input data. This classic memory safety issue allows attackers to trigger out-of-bounds memory reads by supplying crafted input that exceeds expected buffer sizes.

The absence of proper boundary checks before memory operations is a fundamental coding error that can be attributed to:

• Missing length validation prior to buffer operations
• Implicit assumptions about maximum input sizes
• Lack of safe memory handling functions that enforce bounds checking

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring an attacker to have some level of access to the affected device. Exploitation follows this general pattern:

1. An attacker gains local access to a device running vulnerable Qualcomm firmware
2. The attacker crafts malicious input designed to trigger the buffer over-read condition
3. The vulnerable firmware component processes the input without validating buffer boundaries
4. Memory beyond the intended buffer is read, potentially exposing sensitive information
5. Depending on the specific context, this could lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution

The vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction once local access is achieved. Given that this affects firmware-level code, exploitation could potentially compromise the underlying security of the entire device.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-59600

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected device crashes or system instability that may indicate memory corruption attempts
• Abnormal memory access patterns in firmware debugging logs or crash dumps
• Unauthorized applications attempting to interact with low-level device drivers or firmware interfaces
• Evidence of privilege escalation from standard user context to elevated permissions

Detection Strategies

• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of monitoring firmware integrity and detecting anomalous behavior
• Implement memory protection mechanisms and monitor for violations at the kernel and firmware level
• Enable crash reporting and analyze dumps for patterns consistent with buffer overflow/over-read exploitation
• Monitor for suspicious applications that attempt to communicate with affected firmware components

Monitoring Recommendations

• Regularly review device firmware versions against Qualcomm security bulletins to identify unpatched systems
• Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions to track firmware versions across enterprise device fleets
• Enable security logging on affected devices where supported and centralize log collection for analysis
• Monitor vendor security advisories for updated guidance and detection signatures

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-59600

Immediate Actions Required

• Inventory all devices in your environment that utilize affected Qualcomm chipsets and firmware
• Prioritize patching based on device criticality and exposure to potential local attackers
• Apply firmware updates from device manufacturers as they incorporate Qualcomm security patches
• Implement compensating controls such as application allowlisting on sensitive devices until patches are available

Patch Information

Qualcomm has addressed this vulnerability in their March 2026 Security Bulletin. Device manufacturers (OEMs) will incorporate these fixes into their firmware updates. Organizations should monitor their device vendors for specific update timelines and apply patches as they become available through standard device update mechanisms.

For detailed technical information and patch availability, refer to the Qualcomm March 2026 Security Bulletin.

Workarounds

• Restrict physical access to devices running vulnerable firmware to prevent local exploitation
• Implement strong device authentication and access controls to limit who can execute code locally
• Consider network segmentation for IoT and automotive systems to limit lateral movement if a device is compromised
• Disable unnecessary services and applications that might provide attack surface for local exploitation

# Example: Check device firmware version on Android (varies by manufacturer)
adb shell getprop ro.build.fingerprint
adb shell getprop ro.vendor.build.security_patch

# Monitor device security patch level through MDM or device management tools
# Consult your device manufacturer for specific firmware version commands