Overview
CVE-2025-20775 is a security vulnerability affecting MediaTek display drivers. This use-after-free vulnerability could allow a malicious actor, who has already obtained System privilege, to escalate their privileges further on a vulnerable device. Exploitation does not require user interaction. The vulnerability has been assigned Patch ID ALPS10182914 and Issue ID MSV-4795.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from a use-after-free condition within the MediaTek display driver. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when memory that has been freed is accessed again. In this specific case, the display driver might attempt to access a memory location that has already been deallocated, leading to memory corruption and potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical system data or execute arbitrary code. The specific code paths and data structures involved are detailed in MediaTek’s security bulletin.
While the exact details are proprietary, it’s likely that a race condition or improper synchronization within the driver’s memory management is the root cause of this vulnerability.
CVSS Analysis
At the time of writing, the CVSS score for CVE-2025-20775 is listed as N/A. This likely means a formal CVSS score has not yet been calculated or published. However, given the potential for local privilege escalation, it’s reasonable to assume the severity is at least classified as Medium, and potentially High depending on the ease of exploitation and the scope of impact.
Without a CVSS score, a definitive assessment of the attack complexity, attack vector, and confidentiality/integrity/availability impact is difficult.
Possible Impact
The successful exploitation of CVE-2025-20775 could have significant consequences:
- Local Privilege Escalation: An attacker who already possesses System privilege can leverage this vulnerability to gain even higher privileges, potentially gaining root access or complete control over the device.
- Data Theft and Manipulation: With elevated privileges, an attacker can access sensitive data stored on the device, modify system files, and install malicious software.
- Device Compromise: A compromised device can be used as a foothold for further attacks on the network it’s connected to.
- Denial of Service: In some cases, exploiting use-after-free vulnerabilities can lead to system crashes or instability, resulting in a denial-of-service condition.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The primary mitigation strategy is to apply the security patch provided by MediaTek. Specifically, devices should be updated with the patch identified as ALPS10182914. Device manufacturers are responsible for incorporating this patch into their respective firmware updates.
End-users should:
- Check for and install available software updates for their devices promptly.
- Be cautious about installing applications from untrusted sources.
- Consider using a mobile security solution to detect and prevent malicious activity.
