Navigating Danger: Qualcomm GPS Vulnerability CVE-2025-21450 Exposes Devices to Critical MitM Attacks

Introduction

Imagine relying on your smartphone's GPS for critical navigation, only to find yourself misdirected due to a hidden vulnerability. Qualcomm, a dominant player in mobile chipset technology, has recently disclosed a critical flaw (CVE-2025-21450) in its GPS/GNSS components, exposing millions of devices to potential man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. This vulnerability, rated 9.1 on the CVSS scale, underscores significant risks in modern navigation technologies.

Technical Information

CVE-2025-21450 is classified under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication), arising from Qualcomm's GPS firmware's insecure practice of downloading essential GNSS data over unencrypted HTTP connections. This oversight allows attackers positioned for MitM attacks to intercept and manipulate data transmissions. The vulnerability specifically impacts Qualcomm's gpsonextra.net and izatcloud.net domains, historically known for insecure data transfers.

Attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious payloads into intercepted downloads, corrupting GNSS almanac or ephemeris data. This manipulation can result in GPS spoofing, leading devices to report incorrect locations or times, or cause denial of service by corrupting critical data structures within the GPS subsystem.

The root cause lies in the absence of cryptographic authentication mechanisms, allowing attackers to seamlessly alter transmitted data without detection. This vulnerability affects over a hundred Qualcomm chipsets, including popular Snapdragon models widely used in Android devices.

Patch Information

In response to vulnerabilities identified in Qualcomm's GPU micronode, particularly those leading to memory corruption through unauthorized command execution, Qualcomm has released a comprehensive security update. This update addresses the issue by implementing stricter command validation and enhancing memory management protocols within the GPU drivers.

The patch refines the command execution process, ensuring only authorized, properly formatted commands are processed. Additional checks validate the sequence and integrity of incoming commands, effectively preventing malicious command sequences. Enhanced memory management safeguards detect and mitigate unauthorized memory access attempts through boundary checks and access controls.

Qualcomm provides detailed documentation for developers and system integrators, outlining integration guidelines and best practices. Prompt application of this security update is crucial for safeguarding systems against potential exploits.

Affected Systems and Versions

This vulnerability specifically impacts Qualcomm GPS components across a broad range of chipsets, including:

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Snapdragon 7 series
Snapdragon 6 series

All devices utilizing these chipsets with firmware versions prior to the July 2025 security update are vulnerable.

Vendor Security History

Qualcomm has historically faced similar GPS-related vulnerabilities, notably CVE-2016-5341, which involved insecure GPS almanac downloads. Despite proactive security bulletins and patches, Qualcomm's recurring vulnerabilities highlight persistent challenges in securing wireless subsystems. The company's response time is generally prompt, but OEM adoption delays often prolong exposure.

References

Source: This report was created using AI

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