CVE-2024-20085
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2024-20085 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in MediaTek power management components that could allow local information disclosure. Attackers with system execution privileges could read memory beyond intended boundaries without user interaction. This affects devices using vulnerable MediaTek chipsets.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek-powered devices (smartphones, tablets, IoT devices)
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Openwrt by Openwrt
Openwrt by Openwrt
Openwrt by Openwrt
Rdk B by Rdkcentral
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Privileged attacker could read sensitive kernel memory, potentially exposing cryptographic keys, passwords, or other protected data.
Likely Case
Local information disclosure of non-critical system memory, potentially revealing some system state information.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper privilege separation and defense-in-depth controls in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires system execution privileges and knowledge of memory layout. No user interaction needed for exploitation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Firmware with patch ID ALPS08944204
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/September-2024
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply MediaTek-provided patch ALPS08944204. 3. Update device firmware through official channels. 4. Reboot device after update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Privilege restriction
allLimit system execution privileges to essential processes only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit who has system execution privileges
- Monitor for unusual process behavior and memory access patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device firmware version against manufacturer's patched versions. Review MediaTek security bulletin for affected chipset versions.Check Version:
Device-specific commands vary by manufacturer. Typically: 'getprop ro.build.fingerprint' or check Settings > About Phone > Build NumberVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version includes patch ALPS08944204. Check with device manufacturer for specific verification steps.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual kernel memory access patterns
- Processes with system privileges accessing unexpected memory regions
Network Indicators:
- None - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
Process monitoring for unusual memory access by system-privileged processes