CVE-2024-20015 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting a wide range of MediaTek System-on-Chips (SoCs) including MT6739, MT6753, MT6757, MT6761, MT6762, MT6763, MT6765, MT6768, MT6769, MT6781, MT6833, MT6835, MT6853, MT6855, MT6873, MT6875, MT6877, MT6879, MT6883, MT6885, MT6886, MT6889, MT6893, MT6895, MT6983, MT6985, MT8321, MT8667, MT8673, MT8765, MT8766, MT8768, MT8781, MT8786, MT8788, MT8789, MT8791T, MT8797, and MT8798. These chipsets are integrated into many Android devices running versions 12.0, 13.0, and 14.0. The vulnerability stems from a permissions bypass in the telephony subsystem, which allows an attacker with local access to escalate privileges without needing additional execution privileges or user interaction. The flaw is categorized under CWE-305, indicating a failure to properly enforce security restrictions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.4 (High), with vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack requires local access and high attack complexity but no privileges or user interaction, and can fully compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are known, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread deployment of affected MediaTek SoCs in consumer and enterprise mobile devices. The issue was reserved in November 2023 and published in February 2024, with a patch identified as ALPS08441419. The vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass permission checks in telephony services, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or control over device functions. This could facilitate further attacks such as data exfiltration, device manipulation, or persistent compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-20015 is substantial, particularly for those relying on mobile devices with MediaTek chipsets for communication, authentication, or operational tasks. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, interception or manipulation of communications, and disruption of device availability. This is especially critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, where mobile security is paramount. The vulnerability’s local attack vector means that physical or local network access is required, which may limit remote exploitation but increases risk in environments where devices are shared, lost, or accessed by insiders. The broad range of affected chipsets means many consumer and enterprise devices in Europe could be vulnerable, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and bypass security controls on these devices. This could undermine endpoint security, facilitate lateral movement within networks, and compromise overall organizational security posture.

Organizations should prioritize the following mitigations: 1) Monitor vendor communications closely and apply the official MediaTek patch ALPS08441419 as soon as it becomes available for affected devices. 2) Inventory and identify all devices using the affected MediaTek chipsets running Android 12, 13, or 14 to assess exposure. 3) Implement strict device access controls to limit local access, including enforcing strong physical security and endpoint management policies. 4) Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies, detect anomalous behavior, and remotely isolate or wipe compromised devices. 5) Educate users about the risks of local device access and encourage reporting of lost or stolen devices promptly. 6) For high-risk environments, consider additional endpoint protection solutions that can detect privilege escalation attempts or unusual telephony subsystem activity. 7) Collaborate with device manufacturers and carriers to ensure timely updates and security patches are deployed. 8) Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on mobile device security to identify potential exploitation attempts.