CVE-2025-20807: Google Android Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-20807 Overview

CVE-2025-20807 is an integer overflow vulnerability in the DPE (Digital Processing Engine) component affecting MediaTek chipsets used in Android devices. The vulnerability allows an out-of-bounds write condition that could enable local privilege escalation for attackers who have already obtained System-level privileges. No user interaction is required for exploitation.

Critical Impact

Local privilege escalation vulnerability in MediaTek DPE component allows attackers with System privileges to achieve high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability through an integer overflow leading to out-of-bounds write.

Affected Products

• Google Android 16.0
• MediaTek MT6899 chipset
• MediaTek MT6991 chipset
• MediaTek MT8793 chipset

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-06 - CVE-2025-20807 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-20807

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exists in the DPE (Digital Processing Engine) component, which is responsible for digital signal processing operations on MediaTek chipsets. The flaw is classified as CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound), where arithmetic operations produce a value that exceeds the maximum representable integer, causing the value to wrap around and result in an unexpectedly small number.

When this integer overflow occurs, it leads to an out-of-bounds write condition. The attack requires local access and high privileges (System level), but once these prerequisites are met, exploitation does not require any user interaction. Successful exploitation grants an attacker with existing System privileges the ability to impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the device.

Root Cause

The root cause is an integer overflow vulnerability (CWE-190) in the DPE component. When processing certain inputs, arithmetic calculations overflow the bounds of the integer data type, causing allocation or indexing operations to use an incorrectly calculated smaller value. This results in memory being written beyond the intended buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed locally on the device. An attacker who has already compromised the device and obtained System-level privileges can exploit this vulnerability without requiring any user interaction. The exploitation mechanism involves triggering the integer overflow in the DPE component, which then causes the out-of-bounds write. Given the high privilege requirement, this vulnerability is most likely to be used as part of a privilege escalation chain where an attacker first gains System access through other means, then leverages this vulnerability to achieve further elevated access or persistence.

The vulnerability affects the DPE component's memory handling routines. When an integer overflow occurs during size calculations, the resulting smaller value leads to insufficient memory allocation or incorrect boundary checks, allowing writes beyond the allocated buffer. This memory corruption can be leveraged to modify critical data structures or code execution paths.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20807

Indicators of Compromise

• Anomalous DPE component behavior or crashes on affected MediaTek devices
• Unexpected memory access patterns or segmentation faults in system logs
• Evidence of privilege escalation attempts from System to higher privilege levels
• Unusual process activity following DPE component operations

Detection Strategies

• Monitor system logs for DPE component errors or unexpected behavior on devices with affected MediaTek chipsets
• Implement runtime memory monitoring to detect out-of-bounds write attempts
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of identifying exploitation of integer overflow vulnerabilities
• Use Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solutions to monitor for suspicious privilege escalation activity

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for kernel and system-level components on Android devices with affected MediaTek chipsets
• Monitor for unusual process spawning or privilege changes following DPE-related operations
• Implement integrity monitoring for critical system files that could be modified via memory corruption
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity Mobile to detect and respond to exploitation attempts in real-time

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20807

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the security patch identified by Patch ID ALPS10114841 from MediaTek
• Update affected Android devices to the latest firmware version that includes the January 2026 security bulletin fixes
• Restrict physical access to affected devices where possible
• Monitor affected devices for signs of compromise until patches can be applied

Patch Information

MediaTek has released a security patch to address this vulnerability. The patch is tracked internally as ALPS10114841 with Issue ID MSV-4451. Organizations should apply updates through their standard Android device update process. The vulnerability is documented in the MediaTek Product Security Bulletin for January 2026, which provides official guidance on remediation.

Workarounds

• Limit System-level access to only trusted applications and services
• Implement additional access controls to restrict which processes can interact with the DPE component
• Consider network segmentation for devices that cannot be immediately patched
• Deploy Mobile Threat Defense solutions to detect and block exploitation attempts

The recommended approach is to apply the official patch as soon as possible, as workarounds only reduce risk rather than fully remediate the vulnerability.