CVE-2024-20089
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in MediaTek Wi-Fi drivers allows remote attackers to cause denial of service without authentication or user interaction. It affects devices using MediaTek chipsets with vulnerable wlan firmware. The flaw stems from improper error handling that can be triggered remotely.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek Wi-Fi chipsets and devices using them
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Rdk B by Rdkcentral
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Permanent device bricking requiring hardware replacement, complete network disruption for affected devices
Likely Case
Temporary device crashes requiring reboot, intermittent Wi-Fi connectivity loss
If Mitigated
Limited impact with network segmentation and proper monitoring
🎯 Exploit Status
No authentication required, no user interaction needed, making exploitation straightforward
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Firmware with patch ID ALPS08861558
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 ALPS08861558 3. Reboot device after update
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Wi-Fi
allTurn off Wi-Fi functionality to prevent exploitation
Network segmentation
allIsolate affected devices on separate network segments
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit exposure
- Monitor for Wi-Fi disconnection events and device crashes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device firmware version against MediaTek security bulletinCheck Version:
Device-specific commands vary by manufacturer; check system settings or use manufacturer toolsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify patch ID ALPS08861558 is present in firmware📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected Wi-Fi driver crashes
- Multiple device reboots
- WLAN service failures
Network Indicators:
- Sudden Wi-Fi disconnections across multiple devices
- Unusual broadcast/multicast traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
source="wlan" AND (event="crash" OR event="error" OR event="failure")