CVE-2025-20799 Overview
CVE-2025-20799 is a use after free (UAF) vulnerability discovered in the c2ps component affecting MediaTek chipsets running Google Android. This memory corruption flaw could allow an attacker who has already obtained System privilege to achieve local escalation of privilege. The vulnerability does not require user interaction for exploitation, making it particularly concerning for compromised devices.
Critical Impact
Local privilege escalation through memory corruption in MediaTek's c2ps component, enabling attackers with System privilege to gain elevated access without user interaction.
Affected Products
- Google Android 15.0
- Google Android 16.0
- MediaTek MT6899
- MediaTek MT6991
- MediaTek MT6993
- MediaTek MT8793
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-06 - CVE-2025-20799 published to NVD
- 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-20799
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability exists within the c2ps component, a MediaTek-specific driver or service that handles system-level operations on affected chipsets. The use after free condition occurs when the component continues to reference memory that has already been deallocated, leading to memory corruption.
In use after free scenarios, an attacker can potentially manipulate the freed memory region before it is accessed again, allowing them to control program execution flow or corrupt critical data structures. Since the vulnerability affects the c2ps component at a system level, successful exploitation could enable an attacker to break out of privilege boundaries.
The attack requires local access and the attacker must have already compromised the device to System privilege level. From this position, exploitation of the UAF condition could allow further privilege escalation, potentially achieving kernel-level access or bypassing additional security controls.
Root Cause
The root cause is a use after free condition (CWE-416) in the c2ps component. This occurs when the software continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been freed. The freed memory may be reallocated for different purposes, and subsequent use of the stale pointer can lead to memory corruption, data leakage, or arbitrary code execution.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have already compromised the device and obtained System privilege. From this elevated position, the attacker can trigger the use after free condition in the c2ps component without requiring any user interaction. The exploitation path involves manipulating memory state to corrupt the freed pointer reference, potentially allowing the attacker to redirect execution flow or escalate privileges further.
The vulnerability affects MediaTek chipsets MT6899, MT6991, MT6993, and MT8793 running Android 15.0 or 16.0. Due to the chipset-level nature of the flaw, devices from various manufacturers using these MediaTek processors may be affected.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20799
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual crashes or instability in MediaTek c2ps related services or drivers
- Unexpected privilege escalation attempts from System-level processes
- Memory corruption signatures in system logs associated with the c2ps component
- Anomalous system behavior following compromise of System privilege
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for abnormal memory access patterns in MediaTek-specific components
- Implement runtime memory protection mechanisms to detect use after free conditions
- Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of identifying privilege escalation attempts
- Review Android system logs for c2ps component crashes or errors
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging for MediaTek chipset components where supported
- Implement mobile threat defense solutions with kernel-level visibility
- Monitor for unauthorized system-level process spawning
- Track device firmware and Android security patch levels across managed devices
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20799
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the MediaTek security patch referenced as ALPS10274607 when available through device OEM updates
- Ensure Android devices are updated to the latest available security patch level
- Review and restrict applications with System-level privileges
- Deploy mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies
Patch Information
MediaTek has released a security patch addressing this vulnerability, identified by Patch ID ALPS10274607 and Issue ID MSV-5049. The fix is documented in the MediaTek Security Bulletin January 2026. Device manufacturers will need to integrate this patch into their firmware updates, so end users should monitor for OEM-specific security updates.
Workarounds
- Limit installation of untrusted applications that could serve as initial compromise vectors
- Enable Android Verified Boot to detect unauthorized system modifications
- Use mobile threat defense solutions to detect post-compromise privilege escalation attempts
- Isolate affected devices on network segments with enhanced monitoring until patches are applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
