Google Introduces Rust into Pixel 10 Baseband Firmware

Google has introduced a Rust-based DNS parser into the cellular baseband (modem) firmware of the Pixel 10.

This is a proactive measure to reduce the class of memory safety vulnerabilities in the baseband area, which has a large remote attack surface.

• The target is the modem firmware that handles cellular communication.
• The core idea is to lower risk in the parser layer by leveraging Rust, a memory-safe language.
• Google has also applied memory safety vulnerability mitigations in the previous generation, Pixel 9.

This measure can be seen as part of a trend of expanding Rust adoption starting with safety-critical code paths, in order to strengthen security for the baseband—one of the most sensitive attack surfaces on mobile devices.