CVE-2024-20146
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in MediaTek WLAN STA drivers allows remote attackers within wireless range to execute arbitrary code without user interaction. It affects devices using MediaTek chipsets with vulnerable wireless drivers. Exploitation requires proximity to the target device but no authentication.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek WLAN STA driver
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Openwrt by Openwrt
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
Yocto by Linuxfoundation
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise with remote code execution, potentially leading to data theft, device takeover, or lateral movement within networks.
Likely Case
Device compromise leading to data exfiltration, installation of malware, or use as pivot point in network attacks.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if network segmentation and wireless security controls prevent unauthorized access to vulnerable devices.
🎯 Exploit Status
No authentication required, but attacker must be within wireless proximity. No public exploit code available as of advisory date.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patches identified as WCNCR00389496 / ALPS09137491
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/January-2025
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply MediaTek-provided patches WCNCR00389496/ALPS09137491. 3. Reboot device after patch installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable wireless interfaces
Android/LinuxTemporarily disable WLAN interfaces to prevent exploitation until patches can be applied
adb shell svc wifi disable
nmcli radio wifi off
Implement network segmentation
allIsolate vulnerable devices on separate network segments with strict access controls
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Segment vulnerable devices on isolated network segments
- Implement strict wireless access controls and monitoring
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device specifications for MediaTek wireless chipset and firmware version against vendor advisoryCheck Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.fingerprint (for Android devices)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify patch IDs WCNCR00389496 or ALPS09137491 are present in firmware/OS version information📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual wireless connection attempts
- Driver crash logs
- Kernel panic messages related to wlan
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious wireless probe requests
- Unusual MAC addresses in proximity
- Anomalous wireless traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
source="wireless_logs" AND (event="driver_error" OR event="kernel_panic") AND process="wlan*"