CVE-2025-59609: Qualcomm 5G FWA Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-59609 Overview

CVE-2025-59609 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting Qualcomm WLAN firmware across a broad range of Snapdragon mobile, automotive, compute, IoT, and networking platforms. The flaw resides in the wireless stack's handling of advertisement frames containing malformed Multiple BSSID (MBSSID) information elements of insufficient length. When the firmware parses these elements, it performs a buffer read past the declared element boundary, leaking memory contents to the attacker's processing context. The issue is classified under CWE-126: Buffer Over-read. Qualcomm published the fix in its June 2026 security bulletin.

Critical Impact

A radio-proximate attacker who induces a victim to process a crafted Wi-Fi beacon or probe response can read adjacent memory from the WLAN firmware, potentially exposing sensitive runtime data.

Affected Products

• Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3, 8+ Gen 2, 7s Gen 3, 6 Gen 4, 662, 460)
• Qualcomm FastConnect 6700/6900/7800 connectivity subsystems and WCN/WCD/WSA series chipsets
• Qualcomm IPQ, QCN, and Networking Pro platforms for Wi-Fi access points and routers, plus automotive SA/QAM and XR/AR platforms

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-06-01 - CVE CVE-2025-59609 published to NVD
• June 2026 - Qualcomm releases security patch via the Qualcomm Security Bulletin June 2026
• 2026-06-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-59609

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a buffer over-read in the WLAN firmware code that parses 802.11 management frames carrying MBSSID information elements. MBSSID elements allow a single physical access point to advertise multiple virtual BSSIDs within one beacon or probe response. Each subelement carries a length byte that the parser uses to delimit nested fields. When a crafted frame declares an MBSSID element whose length is smaller than the minimum required to hold the mandatory subfields, the parser still attempts to read those subfields. The read extends past the end of the element into adjacent firmware memory.

Root Cause

The parser does not validate that the declared element length is large enough to satisfy the structural requirements of an MBSSID subelement before dereferencing offsets within it. This omission allows a length-driven loop or fixed-offset access to fetch bytes beyond the supplied element. The leaked bytes can include neighboring frame buffer contents, parser state, or scratch memory used by the WLAN firmware. The condition aligns with CWE-126: Buffer Over-read.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires the attacker to be within wireless range of the victim and to transmit a beacon or probe response containing the malformed MBSSID element. The victim device must be scanning or otherwise willing to process the advertisement frame, which is why the CVSS metrics require user interaction and indicate high attack complexity. No authentication to the network is required because the frames are processed during the discovery phase. The disclosed data does not directly grant code execution, but it can be useful as a primitive in multi-stage attacks against the WLAN subsystem.

// No verified proof-of-concept code is available.
// Refer to the Qualcomm June 2026 Security Bulletin for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-59609

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or repeated beacon and probe response frames advertising MBSSID elements with length fields smaller than the structural minimum required by IEEE 802.11.
• Bursts of malformed 802.11 management frames originating from rogue or unfamiliar BSSIDs near corporate or production sites.
• WLAN firmware crash logs, watchdog resets, or driver-reported parser anomalies on Qualcomm-based endpoints after exposure to untrusted Wi-Fi environments.

Detection Strategies

• Deploy wireless intrusion detection systems (WIDS) configured to flag 802.11 management frames containing structurally invalid information elements, including undersized MBSSID elements.
• Capture and inspect over-the-air traffic with monitor-mode tools and parse element-by-element to identify length values that violate the MBSSID subelement schema.
• Correlate vendor firmware crash telemetry from mobile device management or endpoint platforms with nearby Wi-Fi scan events to identify potential exploitation attempts.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable rogue access point detection on enterprise WLAN controllers and alert on unauthorized broadcasters using MBSSID advertisements.
• Forward kernel and WLAN driver logs from Snapdragon-based fleets into a centralized logging or SIEM platform to baseline normal frame parsing behavior.
• Track Qualcomm security bulletin advisories and reconcile patch state across mobile, automotive, and networking inventories at each monthly cycle.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-59609

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the Qualcomm June 2026 firmware updates to all affected Snapdragon mobile, automotive, IoT, and networking platforms as soon as device OEMs make them available.
• Inventory Qualcomm WLAN components in the environment using CPE data from the advisory and prioritize patching for devices that connect to untrusted or public Wi-Fi networks.
• Restrict use of unmanaged Wi-Fi networks on unpatched devices and prefer cellular or wired connectivity for sensitive workloads until firmware is updated.

Patch Information

Qualcomm has released firmware fixes addressing the MBSSID parsing logic. Patches are distributed through OEM device updates and platform firmware images referenced in the Qualcomm Security Bulletin June 2026. Mobile users should install the corresponding Android or vendor-specific security update. Networking and automotive integrators should obtain updated BSPs from Qualcomm or their OEM.

Workarounds

• Disable automatic Wi-Fi scanning and connection to open or unknown SSIDs on unpatched mobile devices.
• Deploy enterprise WIDS or WLAN controller policies that drop management frames with malformed information elements before they reach client devices.
• Segment Qualcomm-based IoT and access point deployments onto isolated VLANs to limit exposure to rogue transmitters until firmware updates are applied.

# Example: disable Wi-Fi auto-join and background scanning on Android via ADB
# (run on managed test devices; consult MDM policies for fleet deployment)
adb shell settings put global wifi_scan_always_enabled 0
adb shell svc wifi disable