CVE-2024-38426
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Qualcomm UE (User Equipment) authentication processing allows improper authentication that could lead to information disclosure. It affects devices using Qualcomm chipsets with vulnerable firmware. Attackers could potentially access sensitive information from affected mobile devices.
💻 Affected Systems
- Qualcomm chipsets with vulnerable firmware
📦 What is this software?
205 Firmware by Qualcomm
215 Firmware by Qualcomm
Snapdragon 835 Mobile Pc Firmware by Qualcomm
Snapdragon Auto 5g Rf Gen 2 Firmware by Qualcomm
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Snapdragon Wear 4100\+ Firmware by Qualcomm
Video Collaboration Vc1 Platform Firmware by Qualcomm
View all CVEs affecting Video Collaboration Vc1 Platform Firmware →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of user data including authentication credentials, personal information, and device identifiers leading to identity theft or further attacks
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to limited device information such as IMSI, location data, or device identifiers that could enable tracking or profiling
If Mitigated
No impact if proper authentication controls and network security measures are implemented
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires specific knowledge of authentication protocol implementation and likely proximity to target device
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Refer to Qualcomm March 2025 security bulletin for specific firmware versions
Vendor Advisory: https://docs.qualcomm.com/product/publicresources/securitybulletin/march-2025-bulletin.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for security updates 2. Apply Qualcomm firmware updates 3. Reboot device after update 4. Verify update through device settings
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Security Controls
allImplement network-level authentication and encryption controls
Device Isolation
allRestrict device access to trusted networks only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices
- Deploy mobile device management (MDM) with strict security policies
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device firmware version against Qualcomm security bulletin; consult device manufacturer for specific vulnerability status
Check Version:
Device-specific: Settings > About Phone > Software Information (varies by manufacturer)
Verify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version has been updated to patched version specified in Qualcomm advisory
📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual authentication attempts in device logs
- Failed authentication events followed by successful access
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious authentication protocol traffic
- Unusual network connections from mobile devices
SIEM Query:
Authentication events from mobile devices with CWE-287 patterns