Researchers find critical bug in Unisoc smartphone chip

Cyber-security researchers on Thursday (June 2, 2022) reported a critical security vulnerability in Unisoc’s smartphone chip being used for cellular communication in 11 per cent of the world’s smartphones.
Left unpatched, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability to neutralise or block cellular communication, according to Check Point Research, a cyber-security firm.
Unisoc, formerly Spreadtrum Communications, is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Shanghai, which produces chipsets for mobile phones.
The company has issued a patch to mitigate the vulnerability.
The team found the vulnerability in the modem firmware, not in the Android OS itself, that affects 4G and 5G Unisoc chipsets being used in several known brands in Africa and Asia.
“Google will be publishing the patch in the upcoming Android Security Bulletin,” said Check Point Research.