Google’s August 2025 security bulletin revealed multiple high-severity vulnerabilities affecting Android devices, particularly those powered by Qualcomm chipsets. Among these were CVE-2025-21479, CVE-2025-27038, and CVE-2025-21480, which target the Adreno GPU drivers and micronode authorization processes. These flaws were found to be actively exploited in the wild, raising serious concerns for organizations relying on Android-based systems.
Google released two patch levels: 2025-08-01 and 2025-08-05. The latter includes broader fixes for Qualcomm and ARM components and is highly recommended for all managed Android environments. One of the most dangerous issues, CVE-2025-48530, is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the Android System component that can be exploited without user interaction or elevated privileges.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added these vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and mandated remediation deadlines for federal agencies. While this directive is specific to U.S. government entities, the inclusion in KEV highlights the need for all sectors to take immediate action.
Why This Matters
-
Vulnerabilities within GPU drivers are especially risky, as they allow attackers to access memory and execute code at the kernel level.
-
These flaws are already being exploited in real-world attacks, including by commercial spyware operators.
-
Delays in patching, especially in enterprise-managed mobile fleets, significantly increase the risk of compromise.
-
Targeted attacks via mobile vectors are growing and require more comprehensive defenses at the hardware-software interface level.
How COE Security Can Help
COE Security supports organizations in financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and government with mobile-focused cybersecurity strategies tailored to today’s evolving threats. Here’s how we help mitigate these specific risks:
-
Deploy AI-powered threat detection and monitoring to identify anomalies at the device and driver levels
-
Perform mobile penetration testing with a special focus on GPU driver vulnerabilities and privilege escalation flaws
-
Ensure timely patch management and compliance with global standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS
-
Guide secure mobile development through our SSDLC consulting services, helping teams build hardened Android applications
-
Provide targeted cybersecurity awareness and incident response training tailored for enterprise mobile infrastructure
Conclusion
The recent Qualcomm GPU vulnerabilities serve as a critical reminder: the attack surface for mobile devices extends far deeper than the apps users interact with. Chipset-level weaknesses, if left unpatched, can give adversaries powerful control over enterprise systems. Organizations must act swiftly to identify vulnerable assets, deploy the appropriate updates, and strengthen their overall mobile security posture.
About COE Security
COE Security partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and government to secure AI-powered systems and ensure compliance. Our offerings include:
-
AI-enhanced threat detection and real-time monitoring
-
Data governance aligned with GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS
-
Secure model validation to guard against adversarial attacks
-
Customized training to embed AI security best practices
-
Penetration Testing (Mobile, Web, AI, Product, IoT, Network and Cloud)
-
Secure Software Development Consulting (SSDLC)
-
Customized CyberSecurity Services
We help clients proactively manage threats like the Qualcomm GPU vulnerabilities through advanced testing, real-time risk management, and compliance frameworks.
Follow COE Security on LinkedIn to stay updated on emerging threats, cybersecurity best practices, and ways to keep your digital ecosystem resilient and compliant.