📄 Description (English)
Memory Corruption when accessing an output buffer without validating its size during IOCTL processing.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-21373 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Qualcomm wireless firmware affecting multiple FastConnect and QCA chipsets used in enterprise and consumer devices. The vulnerability exists in IOCTL processing where output buffer sizes are not validated, potentially allowing local attackers to corrupt kernel memory and achieve privilege escalation. This poses significant risk to Saudi organizations relying on Qualcomm-based networking infrastructure, particularly in banking, government, and telecommunications sectors.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 28, 2026 22:01
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions) faces risk through compromised endpoint security and network infrastructure. Government agencies and NCA systems using Qualcomm-based wireless equipment could experience privilege escalation attacks. Telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily, Zain) operating FastConnect 6700/6800/6900 infrastructure are directly exposed. Healthcare institutions using wireless medical devices and ARAMCO's operational technology networks utilizing these chipsets are at elevated risk. The vulnerability enables local privilege escalation, potentially compromising sensitive data in SWIFT systems, government networks, and critical infrastructure control systems.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Critical Infrastructure
Defense and Security
Enterprise IT
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1548 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1134 - Access Token Manipulation
T1134.003 - Access Token Manipulation: Make and Impersonate Token
T1547 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
T1547.010 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Port Monitors
T1543 - Create or Modify System Process
T1543.003 - Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
T1140 - Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information
T1036 - Masquerading
T1036.005 - Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location
T1566 - Phishing
T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Link
T1053 - Scheduled Task/Job
T1053.005 - Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
T1218 - System Binary Proxy Execution
T1218.009 - System Binary Proxy Execution: Regsvcs/Regasm
T1204 - User Execution
T1204.002 - User Execution: Malicious File
T1047 - Windows Management Instrumentation
T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell
T1059.003 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Inventory all devices using affected Qualcomm firmware (FastConnect 6200/6700/6800/6900, QCA6391/QCA6420, AQT1000, Cologne)
2. Restrict local access to affected systems through network segmentation and access controls
3. Monitor for suspicious IOCTL calls and kernel memory access patterns
4. Disable unnecessary IOCTL interfaces where operationally feasible
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Contact Qualcomm for firmware updates addressing CWE-126 buffer validation
2. Prioritize patching for banking, government, and critical infrastructure systems
3. Test patches in isolated environments before production deployment
4. Establish firmware update schedule with device manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.)
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (until patches available):
1. Implement kernel address space layout randomization (KASLR) on host systems
2. Enable Control Flow Guard (CFG) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP)
3. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions monitoring kernel anomalies
4. Restrict physical access to affected devices
5. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized IOCTL calls
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for abnormal IOCTL calls to wireless drivers (ioctl codes 0x80000000-0x8FFFFFFF range)
2. Alert on kernel memory access violations from user-space processes
3. Track firmware version mismatches across enterprise deployments
4. Monitor for privilege escalation attempts following wireless driver interactions
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حصر جميع الأجهزة التي تستخدم برامج ثابتة كوالكوم المتأثرة (FastConnect 6200/6700/6800/6900، QCA6391/QCA6420، AQT1000، Cologne)
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي للأنظمة المتأثرة من خلال تقسيم الشبكة والتحكم في الوصول
3. مراقبة استدعاءات IOCTL المريبة وأنماط الوصول إلى ذاكرة النواة
4. تعطيل واجهات IOCTL غير الضرورية حيث يكون ذلك ممكناً من الناحية التشغيلية
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. التواصل مع كوالكوم للحصول على تحديثات البرامج الثابتة التي تعالج التحقق من حجم المخزن المؤقت
2. إعطاء الأولوية لتصحيح أنظمة البنوك والحكومة والبنية التحتية الحرجة
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات معزولة قبل النشر في الإنتاج
4. إنشاء جدول زمني لتحديث البرامج الثابتة مع مصنعي الأجهزة
الضوابط البديلة (حتى توفر التصحيحات):
1. تنفيذ عشوائية تخطيط مساحة العناوين في النواة (KASLR) على الأنظمة المضيفة
2. تفعيل Control Flow Guard (CFG) و Data Execution Prevention (DEP)
3. نشر حلول الكشف والاستجابة على نقاط النهاية (EDR) لمراقبة شذوذ النواة
4. تقييد الوصول المادي للأجهزة المتأثرة
5. تنفيذ القائمة البيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع استدعاءات IOCTL غير المصرح بها
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة استدعاءات IOCTL غير الطبيعية لمشغلات الشبكات اللاسلكية
2. تنبيهات على انتهاكات الوصول إلى ذاكرة النواة من عمليات المستخدم
3. تتبع عدم تطابق إصدارات البرامج الثابتة عبر نشرات المؤسسات
4. مراقبة محاولات تصعيد الامتيازات بعد تفاعلات مشغل الشبكة اللاسلكية
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.5.2.1 - Access control implementation
A.5.2.3 - User access management
A.5.2.4 - Access rights review
A.6.1.1 - Cryptographic controls
A.6.2.1 - Physical and environmental security
A.7.1.1 - Secure development policy
A.7.1.2 - Change management
A.8.1.1 - Operational security procedures
A.8.2.1 - Malware protection
A.8.2.2 - Removable media management
A.8.2.3 - Information backup
A.8.3.1 - Event logging
A.8.3.2 - Monitoring and review
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance - Risk Management Framework
Governance - Third-party Risk Management
Protection - Access Control and Authentication
Protection - Data Protection and Privacy
Protection - Cryptography
Detection - Security Monitoring and Incident Detection
Detection - Vulnerability Management
Response - Incident Response and Management
Recovery - Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.1 - Policies for information security
5.2 - Information security roles and responsibilities
5.3 - Segregation of duties
6.1 - Screening
6.2 - Terms and conditions of employment
6.5 - Access control
7.1 - Cryptography
7.2 - Physical and environmental security
8.1 - Operational planning and preparation
8.2 - Protection against malware
8.3 - Backup
8.4 - Event logging
8.5 - Monitoring
8.6 - Master data management
8.7 - Exchange of information
8.8 - Mobile devices
8.9 - Network security
8.10 - Boundary protection
8.11 - Segregation of networks
8.12 - Configuration management
8.13 - Information deletion
8.14 - Data masking
8.15 - Data leakage prevention
8.16 - Monitoring delivery of services
8.17 - System monitoring
8.18 - Clock synchronization
8.19 - Installation of software on operational systems
8.20 - Information systems audit considerations
8.21 - Portable media
8.22 - Information systems disposal
8.23 - Information security incident management
8.24 - Backup and recovery of information systems
8.25 - Availability and resilience
8.26 - Redundancy of information and communication facilities
8.27 - Resilience of information systems
8.28 - Separating information systems
8.29 - Security testing
8.30 - Development environment
8.31 - Separation of development, test and production environments
8.32 - Change management
8.33 - Test information
8.34 - Protection of information systems from exploitation
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
1.1 - Firewall configuration standards
2.1 - Default security parameters
2.2 - Configuration standards for system components
2.4 - Document and communicate security configuration
6.2 - Ensure security patches are installed
6.3 - Develop secure software
6.4 - Security testing of applications
6.5 - Prevent common coding vulnerabilities
8.1 - Assign unique ID to each person
8.2 - Restrict access by business need-to-know
8.3 - Restrict access to cardholder data
10.1 - Implement audit trails
10.2 - Implement automated audit trails
10.3 - Protect audit trail history
11.1 - Wireless access point detection
11.2 - Run vulnerability scans
11.3 - Conduct penetration testing
📦 Affected Products / CPE 50 entries
qualcomm:aqt1000_firmware:-
qualcomm:cologne_firmware:-
qualcomm:fastconnect_6200_firmware:-
qualcomm:fastconnect_6700_firmware:-
qualcomm:fastconnect_6800_firmware:-
qualcomm:fastconnect_6900_firmware:-
qualcomm:fastconnect_7800_firmware:-
qualcomm:qca0000_firmware:-
qualcomm:qca6391_firmware:-
qualcomm:qca6420_firmware:-
qualcomm:qca6430_firmware:-
qualcomm:qcm5430_firmware:-
qualcomm:qcm6490_firmware:-
qualcomm:video_collaboration_vc3_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:sc8380xp_firmware:-
qualcomm:sm6250_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_460_mobile_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_662_mobile_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_7c_compute_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_7c_gen_2_compute_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_7c\+_gen_3_compute_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_8c_compute_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_8c_compute_platform_\(sc8180xp-ad\)_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_8cx_compute_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_8cx_compute_platform_\"poipu_pro\"_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_8cx_gen_2_5g_compute_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_8cx_gen_2_5g_compute_platform_\"poipu_pro\"_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_8cx_gen_3_compute_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:snapdragon_ar1_gen_1_platform_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcd9340_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcd9341_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcd9370_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcd9375_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcd9378c_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcd9380_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcd9385_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcn3950_firmware:-
qualcomm:wcn3988_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8810_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8815_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8830_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8832_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8835_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8840_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8845_firmware:-
qualcomm:wsa8845h_firmware:-
qualcomm:x2000077_firmware:-
qualcomm:x2000086_firmware:-
qualcomm:x2000090_firmware:-
qualcomm:x2000092_firmware:-