Overview
CVE-2025-20768 is a security vulnerability discovered in MediaTek display drivers. This flaw could potentially allow a malicious actor with existing System privileges to escalate their privileges further on the affected device. The vulnerability stems from a missing bounds check in the display driver, leading to a potential out-of-bounds read operation. No user interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability once the attacker possesses System privileges.
Technical Details
The root cause of CVE-2025-20768 lies in a missing bounds check within the display driver code. During display processing, the driver attempts to access memory locations. Without proper validation of the input data, an attacker who already has System level access can craft specific inputs that will cause the driver to read beyond the allocated buffer. This out-of-bounds read could expose sensitive kernel memory or other system data, which could then be leveraged for privilege escalation.
The associated Patch ID for addressing this issue is ALPS10196993, and the Issue ID is MSV-4805.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, a CVSS score and severity rating are not available for CVE-2025-20768. However, the potential for local privilege escalation warrants a serious assessment of the risk. A CVSS score is likely to be assigned once a more thorough analysis of the exploitability and impact is conducted.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-20768 could have significant consequences. An attacker with System privileges could use this vulnerability to gain root or higher-level privileges on the device. This could allow them to:
- Gain complete control over the affected device.
- Access sensitive user data.
- Install malware or other malicious software.
- Modify system settings.
- Potentially compromise other devices on the network.
Although the attacker needs System privileges to begin with, this vulnerability essentially provides a way to strengthen their foothold on the system and significantly expand the scope of the attack.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation for CVE-2025-20768 is to apply the security patch provided by MediaTek. Specifically, devices should be updated with the patch identified by ALPS10196993. Contact your device manufacturer or MediaTek directly for information on obtaining and applying the appropriate patch. Users should apply available over-the-air (OTA) updates as soon as they are released.
If a patch is not immediately available, consider implementing workarounds such as monitoring system logs for suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. However, patching remains the most effective solution.
