CVE-2025-20798 MediaTek, Inc. CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders and security teams responsible for Android devices, especially those with Mediatek chipsets, should assess exposure and apply patches to prevent potential local escalation of privilege.

Why it matters

CVE-2025-20798 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Mediatek battery component that allows for local escalation of privilege. Defenders should assess exposure, apply patches, and monitor for potential exploitation attempts.

• Verify patch deployment for affected Android versions
• Assess System privilege requirements for exploitation
• Monitor for potential local escalation of privilege attempts

Technical summary

The CVE-2025-20798 vulnerability exists in the Mediatek battery component due to a missing bounds check, allowing for an out-of-bounds write. This could lead to local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has obtained System privilege. The CVSS score is 7.8, indicating high severity. The vulnerability affects Android devices with Mediatek chipsets, and defenders should assess exposure and apply patches to prevent potential local escalation of privilege. Vendor advisory from Mediatek is available for affected versions.

Defensive priority

Assess exposure and apply patches for affected Android versions

Recommended defensive actions

• Assess exposure of Android devices to CVE-2025-20798
• Apply patches from Mediatek for affected versions
• 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 entry provide details on the vulnerability, including its high CVSS score of 7.8 and the potential for local escalation of privilege. Vendor advisory from Mediatek is available.

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.