CVE-2025-20772 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416, affecting the display subsystem in a wide range of MediaTek system-on-chip (SoC) models, including MT6739 through MT8883 series. These SoCs are embedded in many Android devices running versions 14.0, 15.0, and 16.0. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management where a freed memory region is accessed again, leading to memory corruption. This corruption can be exploited by a malicious actor who already possesses System-level privileges on the device to escalate their privileges further, potentially gaining unauthorized control or causing denial of service. Notably, exploitation does not require user interaction, increasing the risk if an attacker gains initial system access. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.7 (medium severity), reflecting the need for local system privileges but high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's presence in widely deployed MediaTek SoCs makes it a significant concern. The patch identified as ALPS10182914 addresses this issue, and timely deployment is crucial. The vulnerability's exploitation scope is limited to devices with affected MediaTek chipsets running the specified Android versions, but given the broad chipset range, many devices globally could be impacted.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-20772 can be significant in environments where devices with affected MediaTek chipsets are used, especially in corporate mobile devices or IoT deployments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers with system-level access to escalate privileges, potentially leading to full device compromise, unauthorized data access, or disruption of device functionality. This could affect confidentiality of sensitive corporate data, integrity of device operations, and availability of critical mobile services. Since exploitation requires existing system privileges, the threat is more relevant in scenarios where attackers have already breached initial defenses or where insider threats exist. The widespread use of MediaTek chipsets in affordable smartphones and embedded devices means that organizations relying on such hardware could face increased risk. Additionally, the lack of user interaction requirement means automated or stealthy privilege escalations are possible once initial access is gained, complicating detection and response.

1. Immediately apply the vendor-provided patch ALPS10182914 or any official updates addressing CVE-2025-20772 on all affected devices running Android 14.0 to 16.0 with MediaTek chipsets. 2. Restrict system-level privileges to trusted applications and processes only, minimizing the attack surface for privilege escalation. 3. Implement strict device management policies to control installation of untrusted software that could gain system privileges. 4. Employ runtime protection and memory safety tools where possible to detect and prevent use-after-free exploitation attempts. 5. Monitor device logs and behavior for anomalies indicative of privilege escalation or memory corruption exploits. 6. For organizations deploying IoT or embedded devices with these chipsets, ensure firmware updates are part of regular maintenance cycles. 7. Educate users and administrators about the risks of granting system-level access and the importance of timely updates. 8. Consider network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit the impact of compromised devices within organizational infrastructure.