CVE-2025-20693 is a security vulnerability identified in the WLAN STA (station) driver of multiple MediaTek chipsets, including MT2737, MT6835, MT6878, MT6886, MT6897, MT6899, MT6985, MT6989, MT6990, MT6991, MT7902, MT7920, MT7921, MT7922, MT7923, MT7925, MT7927, MT7932, MT8196, MT8678, MT8796, and MT8893. These chipsets are widely used in various embedded systems and consumer devices running Android versions 13.0, 14.0, and 15.0, as well as platforms like SDK release 3.7 and earlier, openWRT versions 21.02 and 23.05, and Yocto 4.0. The vulnerability stems from an out-of-bounds read caused by an incorrect bounds check in the WLAN STA driver code. This flaw allows an attacker in a proximal or adjacent network position to remotely read memory beyond intended boundaries without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The out-of-bounds read can lead to information disclosure, potentially leaking sensitive data from device memory. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and the broad range of affected platforms make it a significant concern. The issue was reserved in November 2024 and published in July 2025, with a patch identified internally (ALPS09812521) but no public patch links provided yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), indicating a memory safety error that can compromise confidentiality by exposing unintended memory contents. Given the lack of a CVSS score, the severity assessment must consider the impact on confidentiality, ease of exploitation, and scope of affected devices.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-20693 can be substantial, especially for those relying on devices and embedded systems powered by affected MediaTek chipsets. These chipsets are commonly found in smartphones, IoT devices, routers, and embedded industrial equipment. The vulnerability allows attackers within wireless range (proximal or adjacent) to remotely extract sensitive information from device memory without authentication or user interaction. This can lead to leakage of confidential data such as cryptographic keys, credentials, or proprietary information, undermining data confidentiality. In sectors like finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure, where secure wireless communications are essential, this vulnerability could facilitate espionage or data breaches. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a reconnaissance tool to gather intelligence for further attacks. The broad support across Android and embedded Linux platforms (openWRT, Yocto) increases the attack surface. European organizations with extensive wireless device deployments, including smart city infrastructure, industrial control systems, and consumer electronics, are at risk. The lack of user interaction requirement and no need for elevated privileges lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the threat level. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild suggests that immediate widespread attacks may not yet be occurring, but proactive mitigation is critical.

To mitigate CVE-2025-20693 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Prioritize obtaining and applying official patches from MediaTek or device manufacturers as soon as they become available, ensuring all affected devices are updated promptly. 2) For devices where patches are not yet available, implement network-level controls such as segmenting wireless networks, restricting access to trusted devices, and employing strong wireless encryption and authentication to limit attacker proximity. 3) Monitor wireless network traffic for anomalous behavior indicative of reconnaissance or exploitation attempts targeting WLAN STA drivers. 4) Conduct asset inventories to identify all devices using affected MediaTek chipsets and assess their exposure based on deployment context. 5) Collaborate with vendors and suppliers to verify patch status and request timely updates for embedded systems. 6) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting unusual memory access patterns or information leakage attempts on affected devices. 7) Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability specifics to enhance incident response readiness. 8) For critical infrastructure, consider deploying additional physical security measures to reduce the risk of proximal attackers gaining wireless access. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on patch management, network segmentation, device inventory, and monitoring tailored to the unique aspects of this vulnerability.