CVE-2025-20774 is a heap overflow vulnerability classified under CWE-122, affecting a broad range of MediaTek System on Chips (SoCs) including MT2718, MT6739, MT6761, MT6765, MT6768, MT6781, MT6789, MT6833, MT6835, MT6853, MT6855, MT6877, MT6878, MT6879, MT6883, MT6885, MT6886, MT6889, MT6893, MT6895, MT6897, MT6899, MT6983, MT6985, MT6989, MT6991, MT8196, MT8676, MT8678, MT8792, and MT8793. These chipsets are widely used in Android devices running versions 14.0 through 16.0. The vulnerability stems from a missing bounds check in the display subsystem, which allows an attacker to perform an out-of-bounds write on the heap. This memory corruption can lead to local escalation of privilege, enabling an attacker who already has System privileges to potentially gain higher privileges or execute arbitrary code with elevated rights. Notably, exploitation does not require user interaction, increasing the risk in environments where system-level access is compromised. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.7 (medium severity), with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating that local access with high privileges is required, but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high. MediaTek has assigned patch ID ALPS10196993 and issue ID MSV-4796 to address this flaw. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's presence in widely deployed chipsets necessitates prompt remediation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily in environments where MediaTek-based Android devices are used, especially those running Android 14 to 16. If an attacker gains System-level access—potentially through other vulnerabilities or insider threats—they could exploit this heap overflow to escalate privileges further, potentially compromising device security, leaking sensitive data, or disrupting device availability. This could impact corporate mobile device management, secure communications, and access to enterprise resources. The lack of required user interaction means that once system access is obtained, exploitation can be automated or triggered without user awareness. Given the widespread use of MediaTek chipsets in consumer and enterprise mobile devices, organizations relying on these devices for critical operations could face increased risk of targeted attacks or lateral movement within networks.

1. Apply patches promptly: Organizations should ensure that all affected devices receive the MediaTek patch ALPS10196993 or equivalent vendor updates as soon as they become available. 2. Restrict system-level access: Limit the number of users and processes with System privileges on Android devices to reduce the attack surface. 3. Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions: Use MDM to enforce security policies, monitor device integrity, and deploy updates efficiently. 4. Monitor for privilege escalation attempts: Implement behavioral monitoring on devices to detect unusual privilege escalations or memory corruption indicators. 5. Harden device configurations: Disable unnecessary services and features that could be leveraged to gain initial system access. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of rooting or installing untrusted applications that could lead to system privilege compromise. 7. Conduct regular security assessments: Include MediaTek chipset vulnerabilities in vulnerability management programs and penetration testing scenarios.