Overview
CVE-2025-20776 describes a potential security vulnerability within MediaTek’s display driver. This vulnerability, if exploited, could allow a local attacker who has already achieved System privilege to escalate their privileges further. User interaction is *not* required for successful exploitation once the initial System privilege is obtained.
Technical Details
The root cause of CVE-2025-20776 lies in a missing bounds check within the display driver code. Specifically, the vulnerability exists in the processing of display data where an out-of-bounds read can occur. This happens because the driver fails to properly validate the size or index of data being accessed, leading to the possibility of reading memory outside the allocated buffer. The specific code location is not publicly available, but the patch ID, ALPS10184297, and Issue ID, MSV-4759, provide identifiers for MediaTek to track and address the issue.
CVSS Analysis
As of the publication date of this article, a CVSS score has not been assigned to CVE-2025-20776. The severity is currently listed as N/A. This might be due to the requirement of already having System privileges, which lowers the overall impact in typical threat models. However, the potential for privilege escalation after initial compromise remains a significant concern.
Possible Impact
The primary impact of CVE-2025-20776 is local privilege escalation. An attacker who has already compromised a system and gained System privileges could leverage this vulnerability to gain even higher levels of control, potentially leading to:
- Complete system compromise
- Data exfiltration
- Malware installation
- System instability
It’s crucial to note that exploitation requires the attacker to have already obtained System-level access. However, the ease with which an attacker can escalate from that point significantly increases the risk.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation for CVE-2025-20776 is to apply the security patch provided by MediaTek. This patch includes the necessary bounds check to prevent the out-of-bounds read. The patch ID is ALPS10184297.
- Check your device manufacturer’s website or update channels for firmware updates containing the patch.
- Apply the update as soon as it becomes available.
- If updates are not yet available, monitor your device manufacturer’s communication channels for release announcements.
