CVE-2025-20797 MediaTek, Inc. CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders responsible for Mediatek-based Android systems, particularly those using versions 14.0, 15.0, and 16.0, should assess exposure and apply patches. The vulnerability is a high-severity issue in the Mediatek battery component, allowing for local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

Why it matters

CVE-2025-20797 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Mediatek battery component, allowing for local escalation of privilege. Defenders responsible for Mediatek-based Android systems should assess exposure and apply patches.

• Local escalation of privilege requires System privilege
• No user interaction needed for exploitation
• High-severity vulnerability with CVSS score of 7.8

Technical summary

A missing bounds check in the Mediatek battery component allows for local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. The vulnerability is a high-severity issue with a CVSS score of 7.8. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. The CVE record and NVD vulnerability detail provide information on the vulnerability, including its description, CVSS score, and affected products. Defenders responsible for Mediatek-based Android systems should assess exposure and apply patches.

Defensive priority

Assess exposure and apply patches for Mediatek battery component

Recommended defensive actions

• Assess exposure of Mediatek battery component in Android versions 14.0, 15.0, and 16.0
• Apply patches for Mediatek battery component
• Verify System privilege requirements for exploitation
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD vulnerability detail provide information on the vulnerability, including its description, CVSS score, and affected products. The vulnerability is a high-severity issue in the Mediatek battery component, allowing for local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. The CVE record was published on 2026-01-06T02:15:43.690Z and has not been modified since then. The NVD entry is currently Analyzed. Defenders should verify a

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.