Understanding CVE-2025-20650 in MediaTek Chipsets
CVE-2025-20650 highlights a critical vulnerability discovered in specific MediaTek chipsets. This vulnerability, identified as an out-of-bounds write issue (CWE-787), poses a significant risk as it could potentially lead to an escalation of privileges. The vulnerability is present in various chipsets of MediaTek, including MT2737, MT6781, MT6895, and others.
The problem arises from a missing bounds check in a component identified as ‘da.’ This flaw could allow an attacker with physical access to the device to perform operations outside the intended boundaries, leading to undesired system behavior or privilege escalation.
Affected Products and Environments
The vulnerability affects multiple MediaTek chipset models running on operating systems such as Android 13.0 to 15.0, openWRT versions 21.02 and 23.05, Yocto 4.0, and RDK-B versions 22Q3 and 24Q1. This broad range of affected versions indicates substantial exposure across different platforms. The vulnerability necessitates user interaction for successful exploitation, yet it requires no additional privileges, making it a critical concern for users and administrators alike.
Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-20650, the following strategies should be considered:
- Patch Management: Apply the latest security patches provided by MediaTek as soon as they are available. MediaTek has identified this issue under Patch ID: ALPS09291294, and ensuring your devices are updated will significantly reduce exposure.
- User Awareness: Educate users about the risks associated with physical access to devices and the importance of installing the latest updates promptly.
- Access Control: Implement strict physical access controls to devices to prevent unauthorized personnel from having access, thereby minimizing the risk of exploitation.
- Monitoring and Response: Set up an effective monitoring system to detect any abnormal activities promptly and respond accordingly to potential security incidents.
For more detailed information on this vulnerability, please refer to the MediaTek product security bulletin published in March 2025: MediaTek Security Bulletin.
Conclusion
The CVE-2025-20650 vulnerability is a significant security concern that affects a wide range of MediaTek products. Addressing this vulnerability through timely patching, improved user education, and stringent access controls will help in mitigating potential risks. Staying proactive in vulnerability management is key to safeguarding devices against critical threats such as this.