CVE-2023-20693
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in MediaTek wlan firmware allows remote attackers to cause a system crash (denial of service) without authentication or user interaction. It affects devices using vulnerable MediaTek wireless chipsets. The exploit requires sending specially crafted network packets to trigger an uncaught exception.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek wireless chipsets with vulnerable wlan firmware
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system crash requiring physical reboot, potentially disrupting critical services on affected devices.
Likely Case
Temporary denial of service affecting wireless connectivity until system restart.
If Mitigated
No impact if patched or if network controls block malicious wireless traffic.
🎯 Exploit Status
No authentication required, but attacker must be within wireless range. No public exploit code known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Firmware with patch ID ALPS07664711
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/July-2023
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply MediaTek firmware update containing patch ALPS07664711. 3. Reboot device to activate patched firmware.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable wireless when not needed
allTurn off WiFi/Bluetooth to prevent wireless attack surface
airplane mode or disable wireless in settings
Network segmentation
allIsolate vulnerable devices on separate network segments
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Physically isolate devices from untrusted wireless networks
- Implement strict network access controls and monitor for unusual wireless traffic
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device specifications for MediaTek wireless chipset and firmware version against vendor bulletinsCheck Version:
Device/system specific - check Android settings > About phone > Build number or use manufacturer diagnostic toolsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version includes patch ALPS07664711 via device settings or manufacturer tools📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- System crash logs
- Kernel panic messages
- Unexpected wireless driver failures
Network Indicators:
- Unusual wireless packet patterns
- Malformed 802.11 frames
SIEM Query:
Wireless driver crash OR kernel panic AND source near wireless interface