CVE‑2021‑1906: Qualcomm Multiple Chipsets – Detection of Error Condition Without Action Vulnerability
What It Is — A logic‑error flaw in several Qualcomm Snapdragon and Adreno GPU chipsets where an error condition is detected but no corrective action is taken. The defect can cause GPU address‑allocation failures after an address‑deregistration event.
Exploitability — No public exploit has been observed; the issue is triggered locally by malformed driver calls. NVD assigns a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (Medium).
Affected Products — Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile SoCs, Qualcomm Adreno GPU families, and any downstream devices that ship with the affected firmware (smartphones, tablets, automotive infotainment units, IoT gateways).
Why It Matters for Trust & Control Assurance
- Demonstrates the need for a continuous vulnerability‑management program that captures firmware‑level flaws, not just OS‑level patches.
- Provides audit‑ready evidence that an organization is actively identifying, prioritising, and remediating hardware‑level weaknesses—an expectation in many control frameworks (e.g., NIST CSF Identify & Protect).
- Highlights the importance of configuration and change‑control evidence to prove that firmware updates have been applied and that any residual risk is documented for regulators or enterprise customers.
Recommended Actions
- Inventory all devices that use Qualcomm Snapdragon/Adreno chipsets and map firmware versions against the vendor’s advisory.
- Apply the latest firmware patches released by Qualcomm or device OEMs that address CVE‑2021‑1906.
- Enable monitoring for GPU address‑allocation errors (e.g., kernel logs, telemetry) to detect any failed remediation attempts.
- Document remediation in your vulnerability‑management system and retain evidence for audit purposes.
- Review your hardware‑firmware patch policy to ensure it aligns with a continuous‑control‑evidence approach.
Source: NVD – CVE‑2021‑1906