CVE-2025-20697
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Power HAL allows local privilege escalation through an out-of-bounds write due to missing bounds checks. It affects MediaTek-powered Android devices where an attacker with System privilege can gain higher privileges without user interaction. The risk is limited to devices using affected MediaTek chipsets.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek-powered Android devices
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, potentially installing persistent malware or accessing all user data.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation from System to higher privileges, enabling installation of malicious apps, data theft, or further exploitation.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper privilege separation and SELinux policies are enforced, though kernel-level access could still be achieved.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires System privilege first; out-of-bounds write in Power HAL could be leveraged for privilege escalation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patch ID: ALPS09915681
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/August-2025
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for security updates. 2. Apply August 2025 or later MediaTek security patch. 3. Verify patch ALPS09915681 is included. 4. Reboot device if required by manufacturer.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict System Privilege Access
AndroidLimit which apps and processes can obtain System privilege through SELinux policies and app permissions.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate devices from untrusted networks and users
- Implement strict app vetting and privilege management
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if device uses MediaTek chipset and has not received August 2025 security patches with ALPS09915681.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level includes August 2025 or later and check patch notes for ALPS09915681.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- Power HAL error messages
- SELinux denials for privilege escalation attempts
Network Indicators:
- None - local exploitation only
SIEM Query:
Search for kernel crashes or Power HAL errors in device logs