Overview
CVE-2025-20754 is a vulnerability affecting MediaTek modem components that could lead to a remote denial-of-service (DoS) condition. This flaw is due to an incorrect bounds check within the modem software. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability does not require user interaction or elevated privileges, making it a highly concerning issue for potentially affected devices.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from an improper bounds check within the MediaTek modem software. If a User Equipment (UE), such as a mobile phone, connects to a rogue base station controlled by an attacker, the attacker can send specially crafted data that triggers the incorrect bounds check. This ultimately leads to a system crash and a denial of service condition, rendering the modem and potentially the entire device unusable.
The specific Patch ID addressing this issue is MOLY01689251, and the associated Issue ID is MSV-4840.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the CVSS score for CVE-2025-20754 is listed as N/A, and severity is also N/A. This might be because the information is still being analyzed, or due to the proprietary nature of the affected code. However, given the potential for remote exploitation without user interaction, it is prudent to treat this vulnerability with a high degree of seriousness, even without a formal CVSS score.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-20754 can have significant impact:
- Denial of Service: The primary impact is a denial-of-service condition on the affected device’s modem. This could prevent users from making calls, sending messages, or accessing mobile data.
- Device Unusability: In severe cases, the system crash caused by the vulnerability could render the entire device temporarily unusable.
- Wider Network Disruptions: While less likely, a coordinated attack targeting multiple devices could potentially cause localized network disruptions.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to apply the security patch provided by MediaTek. Device manufacturers using MediaTek modems should integrate patch MOLY01689251 into their firmware and push updates to end-users. Users should promptly install any available software updates from their device manufacturers to protect against this vulnerability.
Contact your device vendor for specific update availability and instructions.
