Samsung Galaxy devices vulnerable to security risk due to flaw in Qualcomm chips, warn experts.
Qualcomm Reveals Security Exploit in Mobile CPUs
Qualcomm recently disclosed a security exploit that could have been used by hackers on numerous phones and tablets manufactured by major device makers. Although the issue has been fixed, details about the target of the exploit and the potential impact remain unclear.
Details of the Exploit
Qualcomm revealed information about a “zero-day” bug, known as CVE-2024-43047, found in some of its older and high-end mobile CPUs. This vulnerability could potentially impact a broad range of 64 chips, including the Snapdragon 888+. The full list of affected chips can be found in the official announcement.
How to Check if Your Phone was Affected
To determine if your phone may have been targeted by hackers, you should compare your device’s chip with the list provided by Qualcomm. On an Android phone, navigate to Settings, then System, and access the About phone or About device section to locate the CPU information under Processor.
Mitigation and Response
Qualcomm confirmed that the bug was only exploited in limited and targeted attacks, indicating that the widespread impact was minimal. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) highlighted the vulnerability and recommended prompt deployment of the patch provided by Qualcomm to manufacturers. Google’s Threat Analysis Group and Amnesty International’s Security Lab were among the entities that discovered the exploit.
The Potential Impact
Millions of phones in the U.S. and globally could have been affected by this exploit, as Qualcomm chips are utilized in devices from various manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Realme, Vivo, and ZTE. The situation calls for vigilance and close monitoring to assess any potential exploitation of these devices.
