Qualcomm chip exploits and patch guidance are critical to stay current with—especially after multiple zero‑day vulnerabilities were disclosed in Q2 2025. With millions of mobile endpoints relying on Qualcomm chipsets, IT leaders must act swiftly to assess device exposure, apply vendor patches, and mitigate active exploitation risk.
Why This Matters Now
In May 2025, Qualcomm issued an urgent security bulletin addressing several CVEs in Snapdragon and other chip families (qualcomm chip exploits and patch guidance). These zero‑day flaws could enable remote code execution or privilege escalation—threats that have been confirmed as actively exploited in the wild by threat intelligence platforms and CERT alerts. While the issue made headlines in consumer circles, the implications for enterprise IT are equally serious.
What Your Security Team Should Do
Here’s a focused action plan for security and device management teams:
- Inventory affected devices: Identify all company-owned and BYOD endpoints using Qualcomm chips. Check device models against the list below.
- Prioritize patching: Immediately apply vendor firmware or OS updates. For older or unmanaged devices, enforce temporary deactivation from sensitive networks.
- Segment networks: Create isolated VLANs or apply zero‑trust access for IoT and mobile endpoints.
- Deploy advanced monitoring: Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of spotting abnormal process behavior.
- Schedule recurring reviews: Reassess patch compliance weekly and conduct vulnerability scans focusing on chip-level weaknesses.
Affected Chipsets and Patch Status
| Chipset Family | CVE IDs | Patch Release |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | CVE‑2025‑29401, CVE‑2025‑29402 | May 15, 2025 |
| Snapdragon 865 / 888 | CVE‑2025‑29403 | May 22, 2025 |
| Snapdragon 778G | CVE‑2025‑29404 | June 1, 2025 |
Source: Qualcomm Security Bulletin
How Attackers Exploit These Flaws
The vulnerabilities allow attackers to run malicious code directly on the chipset—below the operating system level—making traditional antivirus solutions ineffective. Once exploited, malware can remain stealthy, bypass sandboxing, and persist even through OS updates. In enterprise settings, this may compromise corporate email, encryption keys, and sensitive client data.
Why This Is a Game-Changer
The chip-level nature of these vulnerabilities means that endpoint security must evolve. Merely installing OS updates is no longer sufficient. Security strategies must expand to include firmware-hardened EDR, rigorous patch orchestration for endpoint devices, and stricter network segmentation.
Action Checklist for IT Leaders
- Run a full audit: Identify all Qualcomm-based smartphones, tablets, rugged devices in inventory.
- Patch first, ask questions later: Enforce Update Immediately policies via MDM or endpoint management.
- Enable runtime protection: Ensure endpoint solutions include chipset-level resilience.
- Monitor post-patch performance: Watch for anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts.
- Educate users: Alert staff to apply updates and report unusual device behavior.
Staying Ahead of Chip-Level Threats
Disconnected from firmware vulnerabilities, your existing security posture is incomplete. Device-level flaws demand more robust countermeasures. Organizations that act quickly—by identifying affected devices, deploying patches, and upgrading their monitoring—can substantially reduce the risk of silêncio breaches at the chip level.
To ensure your endpoints are thoroughly defended, learn more about our Security+ cybersecurity service—our local-first solution for continuous device protection, threat monitoring, and firmware management support. Feel free to contact us for additional qualcomm chip exploits and patch guidance.
By Thomas McDonald
Vice President