CVE-2025-20807: Google Android Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-20807 Overview

CVE-2025-20807 is an integer overflow vulnerability in the MediaTek dpe (Display Processing Engine) component that leads to an out-of-bounds write. The flaw affects Google Android running on MediaTek chipsets including MT6899, MT6991, and MT8793. Successful exploitation enables local escalation of privilege without user interaction. An attacker must already hold System privilege to trigger the condition. MediaTek tracks the fix under Patch ID ALPS10114841 and Issue ID MSV-4451.

Critical Impact

A local actor with System privilege can corrupt kernel memory through an out-of-bounds write, enabling further privilege escalation on affected MediaTek-powered Android devices.

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
• January 2026 - MediaTek publishes Product Security Bulletin including Patch ID ALPS10114841

Technical Details for CVE-2025-20807

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the dpe Display Processing Engine driver shipped with affected MediaTek SoCs. An integer overflow occurs during size or offset calculation, producing a truncated value used to bound a subsequent memory write. The result is an out-of-bounds write into adjacent kernel memory. This class of defect is tracked as CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound. Exploitation requires no user interaction and runs entirely from a local context.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of arithmetic on attacker-influenced inputs inside the dpe driver. When the computed length wraps around the integer width, the driver allocates or addresses a smaller region than the data being written. The subsequent write proceeds beyond the intended buffer, corrupting kernel structures. MediaTek's bulletin references the fix as MSV-4451.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. The attacker must first obtain System-level privilege on the device, for example through a compromised privileged service or a prior chained exploit. From System context, the attacker issues crafted ioctl or driver requests to the dpe component to trigger the overflow. Because the write lands in kernel memory, successful exploitation can yield kernel-level code execution and full device compromise. No verified public exploit is currently available for this vulnerability.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20807

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected kernel panics, SELinux denials, or crashes referencing the dpe driver or display subsystem on MediaTek devices.
• Privileged processes issuing unusual sequences of ioctl calls against dpe device nodes.
• Anomalous loading of kernel modules or sudden privilege transitions from System to root contexts.

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Android system logs (logcat, dmesg) for repeated faults or stack traces inside the dpe driver path.
• Audit fleet inventory for devices running Android 16.0 on MT6899, MT6991, or MT8793 that lack the January 2026 MediaTek patch level.
• Use mobile threat defense telemetry to flag processes attempting privilege escalation following access to display driver interfaces.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Track the device security patch level and confirm application of MediaTek Patch ID ALPS10114841.
• Correlate kernel crash reports with patch level data to identify unpatched, unstable endpoints.
• Alert on installation of unsigned or sideloaded applications on enterprise-managed Android devices using affected MediaTek SoCs.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20807

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the January 2026 MediaTek security patch level on all affected devices as soon as the OEM build is available.
• Identify Android 16.0 endpoints running MT6899, MT6991, or MT8793 chipsets and prioritize them for update.
• Restrict installation of untrusted applications and limit the number of privileged services that can reach the dpe driver.

Patch Information

MediaTek addressed the issue in the January 2026 Product Security Bulletin under Patch ID ALPS10114841 and Issue ID MSV-4451. Device OEMs must incorporate the patch into their monthly Android security update for MT6899, MT6991, and MT8793 based devices. See the MediaTek Security Bulletin January 2026 for vendor details.

Workarounds

• No vendor-supplied workaround exists; patching through the OEM update channel is required.
• Enforce mobile device management policies that block unmanaged code execution and require minimum patch levels for corporate access.
• Reduce attack surface by disabling debugging interfaces and removing unused privileged applications on managed Android devices.