CVE-2025-27038: Qualcomm Multiple Chipsets Use-After-Free Vulnerability

CVE-2025-27038 is a use-after-free vulnerability affecting multiple Qualcomm chipsets. It can lead to memory corruption during graphics rendering that relies on Adreno GPU drivers in Chrome. For IT and security teams this matters because successful abuse of memory-corruption flaws in GPU drivers can undermine device integrity on platforms that use these chipsets, potentially allowing further compromise of the host environment. Specifics of impact and fixed releases must be confirmed against the vendor advisory.

How it works

The weakness is classified as CWE-416 (use-after-free). In this class of flaw, memory that has already been freed is later accessed again, creating an opportunity for corruption of adjacent memory structures. According to the available summary, the issue surfaces while rendering graphics with Adreno GPU drivers inside Chrome. An attacker who can influence the graphics content processed by the vulnerable driver path may trigger the use-after-free condition and achieve memory corruption. Exact trigger conditions, required privileges, and exploitation steps are not detailed in the public record and must be verified against the vendor advisory; defenders should treat any untrusted graphics content rendered through the affected path as a potential vector for this class of issue.

Am I affected? How to find it in your systems

Qualcomm chipsets appear in a wide range of mobile devices, embedded systems, and other platforms that incorporate Adreno GPUs. Inventory efforts should therefore focus on hardware that uses Qualcomm system-on-chip components and that runs Chrome or other software relying on the Adreno graphics stack.

• Enumerate devices by manufacturer model, SoC identifier, or firmware inventory tools that report Qualcomm chipset presence.
• Check installed browser and graphics-driver versions against the list of affected configurations published by the vendor; confirm exact version ranges in the official advisory rather than relying on secondary sources.
• Review crash dumps, GPU driver logs, and browser renderer process terminations for patterns consistent with memory-corruption events during graphics workloads. Elevated rates of Adreno-related faults or Chrome GPU process crashes may warrant deeper investigation, though such telemetry alone does not confirm exploitation.
• For managed fleets, query MDM or endpoint-management inventories for devices reporting Qualcomm hardware and Chrome installations that have not yet received the vendor-recommended updates.

How to remediate

The primary remediation is to apply the mitigations and updates supplied by the vendor for the affected chipsets and drivers. Follow the vendor instructions exactly; CISA guidance also directs organizations to apply those mitigations, to follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance where cloud services are involved, or to discontinue use of the product if no mitigations are available.

• Obtain and deploy the official firmware, driver, or OS updates that address CVE-2025-27038 as soon as they are validated in your environment.
• After patching, re-inventory devices to confirm the updated components are present and that the vulnerable driver path is no longer active.
• For the broader use-after-free class, ensure that subsequent security updates for the GPU stack and browser are applied promptly, and keep graphics-related software components current.

If you can't patch immediately

When immediate patching is not feasible, reduce exposure with compensating controls while the update is prepared.

• Segment devices that contain the affected chipsets onto restricted network zones that limit inbound untrusted content and reduce lateral-movement opportunities.
• Where operationally possible, restrict or disable Chrome graphics features that exercise the Adreno driver path, or temporarily switch users to alternative browsers that do not rely on the vulnerable driver until the fix is applied—confirm any such configuration changes against vendor guidance.
• Increase monitoring of GPU driver crashes, browser renderer failures, and anomalous process behavior on devices known to use the chipsets; feed these signals into existing EDR or SIEM rules for rapid triage.
• Apply virtual-patching or content-filtering controls at the network edge that can block or sandbox untrusted web content likely to trigger graphics rendering, understanding that such measures are imperfect for client-side GPU issues.
• If no mitigations exist for a particular deployment, evaluate temporary discontinuation of the affected product as directed by CISA.

If your data may have been exposed

Actively exploited memory-corruption vulnerabilities can lead to device compromise and subsequent data exposure. Although ransomware use of this specific CVE is not documented, any confirmed exploitation should trigger standard incident-response procedures, including isolation of affected devices, forensic collection, and credential rotation. Organizations and individuals can also run a free exposure scan of their email addresses against known breach data sets to determine whether related accounts appear in previously disclosed incidents.