If you use an Android smartphone, this important update is for you. CERT-In, the cybersecurity agency under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has issued an alert to millions of Android smartphone users in the country about multiple ‘critical’ security vulnerabilities affecting widely used Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipsets.
In its latest advisory, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team said vulnerabilities impact several widely used Snapdragon processors used in premium, mid-range and budget Android smartphones.
The affected chipsets include Snapdragon 8 Gen series, Snapdragon 7 series, Snapdragon 6 series, Snapdragon 4 Gen series, Snapdragon 888 and others.
“Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in Qualcomm products and software components, which could allow an attacker to perform remote code execution, privilege escalation, denial of service, memory corruption and information disclosure on the targeted system,” the cybersecurity agency said in its report.
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According to the agency, the flaws could allow hackers to remotely access affected devices, steal sensitive information, crash apps and services or gain higher system privileges on targeted phones.
CERT-In said the vulnerabilities exist because of issues like memory corruption, buffer overflows, improper authorisation, and weak input validation in different software and firmware components linked to these mobile platforms.
Who Are At Risk?
According to the agency, the risk affects all users and organisations using devices powered by Qualcomm chipsets and software components. In simple words, anyone using Android phones or other connected devices running affected Snapdragon platforms could be at risk.
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CERT-In has requested users and organisations to install the latest security updates released by smartphone brands and system vendors. Smartphone users in India are also advised to avoid downloading apps from unknown sources and regularly check for software updates in their device settings.
It is also important to note that the risk is not limited to smartphones. It affects all users and organisations using devices powered by Qualcomm chipsets and software components, including tablets, wireless devices, networking products, automotive systems, and IoT devices.
