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CVE Record

CVE-2025-39787: soc: qcom: mdt_loader: Ensure we don't read past the ELF header

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: soc: qcom: mdt_loader: Ensure we don't read past the ELF header When the MDT loader is used in remoteproc, the ELF header is sanitized beforehand, but that's not necessary the case for other clients. Validate the size of the firmware buffer to ensure that we don't read past the end as we iterate over the header. e_phentsize and e_shentsize are validated as well, to ensure that the assumptions about step size in the traversal are valid.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux Qualcomm firmware loader can read beyond the available ELF header when another component supplies an insufficiently validated firmware buffer. This is a local, low-complexity vulnerability requiring low privileges. The supplied CVSS score is 7.8, but the source bundle does not establish a specific exploitation outcome beyond the unsafe read.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority kernel remediation for exposed Qualcomm-based systems, particularly multi-user and managed-device fleets. It is not presently an internet-facing emergency: exploitation is local, and the supplied evidence does not show active attacks. Require owners to confirm affectedness and schedule a vendor-fixed kernel promptly.

Technical view

The qcom MDT loader iterates ELF program and section headers. Some remoteproc paths sanitize the header first, while other clients may not. The fix validates the firmware-buffer length and checks e_phentsize and e_shentsize before traversal. The CVSS assessment rates confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts high, although the description only directly confirms an out-of-bounds read.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using the Qualcomm MDT loader through clients that do not sanitize ELF headers beforehand. The bundle marks Linux 4.11 and multiple releases through 6.17 affected. Exact exposure depends on kernel configuration, loader use, distribution packaging, and vendor backports; the supplied version mapping is not sufficiently precise for version-only decisions.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates a local attacker with low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction. The CVE is not listed as KEV, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Absence from KEV does not prove exploitation is impossible.

Researcher notes

The key boundary is whether a caller can provide a truncated or inconsistent ELF/MDT buffer without prior sanitization. Review all qcom MDT loader callers, not only remoteproc. The bundle supplies no CWE, proof of exploitability, crash signature, or affected configuration matrix. Do not infer code execution solely from the CVSS impact fields.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor or distribution kernel update containing the applicable stable fix.
  • Confirm the update adds firmware-buffer bounds checks and validates ELF entry sizes.
  • Follow device-vendor guidance for embedded or appliance kernels that may use backported fixes.
  • If patching is deferred, reduce untrusted local access; no product-specific workaround is supplied.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Qualcomm-based Linux systems and determine whether the qcom MDT loader is built or loaded.
  • Record kernel package builds and compare them with vendor advisories, including documented backports.
  • Verify source or package metadata includes the applicable stable commit or equivalent validation changes.
  • Test legitimate firmware-loading workflows after updating and investigate loader errors or regressions.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2025-39787 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
13Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-39787Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1, 2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1, 2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1, 2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1, 2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1, 2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1, 2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1, 2aad40d911eeb7dcac91c669f2762a28134f0eb1unaffected
LinuxLinux4.11, 0, 5.4.297, 5.10.241, 5.15.190, 6.1.149, 6.6.103, 6.12.44, 6.16.4, 6.17affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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