CVE-2024-20116
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in cmdq (likely a MediaTek component) that could allow local information disclosure. Attackers need system execution privileges to exploit it, but no user interaction is required. The vulnerability affects MediaTek devices using vulnerable versions of the cmdq component.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek devices with cmdq component
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker with system privileges could read sensitive memory contents, potentially exposing cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other protected data from kernel or system memory.
Likely Case
Local information disclosure where an attacker with elevated privileges reads adjacent memory regions, potentially exposing system information or application data.
If Mitigated
With proper privilege separation and SELinux/app sandboxing, impact is limited to the compromised process's memory space only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires system privileges but no user interaction. The missing bounds check makes exploitation straightforward once privileges are obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patch ID: ALPS09057438
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/December-2024
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check MediaTek security bulletin for affected devices. 2. Apply vendor-provided firmware update containing patch ALPS09057438. 3. Reboot device after update installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict system privileges
androidLimit applications and users with system execution privileges to reduce attack surface
# Use SELinux policies to restrict system access
# Review and minimize apps with system privileges
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict application sandboxing and privilege separation
- Monitor for unusual system privilege usage and memory access patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device firmware version against MediaTek security bulletin for December 2024. Review if cmdq driver version is pre-patch.Check Version:
# For Android devices: getprop ro.build.fingerprint
# Check kernel version: uname -aVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version includes patch ALPS09057438. Check that device is no longer listed in MediaTek's affected devices list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual memory access patterns in kernel logs
- Processes with system privileges accessing cmdq driver unexpectedly
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability only
SIEM Query:
Processes with system privileges AND (cmdq access OR unusual memory operations)