CVE-2025-20631
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in MediaTek wlan AP driver allows local attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries due to improper bounds checking. Successful exploitation could lead to local privilege escalation without requiring user interaction or additional execution privileges. Devices using affected MediaTek wireless chipsets are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek wlan AP driver
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with kernel-level access, allowing attackers to install persistent malware, steal sensitive data, or disable security controls.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation from limited user to root/system-level access, enabling further lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and least privilege principles in place, though local compromise risk remains.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access but no authentication; exploitation involves memory corruption techniques.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patch ID: WCNCR00397141
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/February-2025
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Contact device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply MediaTek patch WCNCR00397141. 3. Update device firmware to latest version containing the fix.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable wireless interfaces
Linux/AndroidTemporarily disable affected wlan AP functionality if not required
sudo ifconfig wlan0 down
sudo systemctl stop wpa_supplicant
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices
- Apply principle of least privilege to limit local user access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device specifications for MediaTek wireless chipset and firmware version against vendor advisoryCheck Version:
Check device firmware version in system settings or via manufacturer toolsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify patch WCNCR00397141 is applied in firmware version details📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- Memory access violation errors
- Unexpected privilege escalation attempts
Network Indicators:
- Unusual local network traffic from compromised devices
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("out of bounds" OR "memory corruption" OR "privilege escalation")