Cyber Posture

CVE-2025-20795

High

Published: 06 January 2026

Published
06 January 2026
Modified
08 January 2026
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score 7.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0001 1.0th percentile
Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-20795 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Google Android. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 1.0th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-16 (Memory Protection).

Threat & Defense at a Glance

What attackers do: exploitation maps to Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068). What defenders deploy: see the NIST 800-53 controls recommended below.
Threat & Defense Details

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI

prevent

Directly requires validation of inputs including bounds checks to prevent the out-of-bounds write due to missing bounds check in KeyInstall.

prevent

Implements memory protection mechanisms such as guard pages and execution prevention to mitigate exploitation of the out-of-bounds write vulnerability.

prevent

Mandates identification, reporting, and correction of the specific flaw causing the missing bounds check, enabling patching as provided by MediaTek (ALPS10276761).

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
Why these techniques?

Out-of-bounds write in local KeyInstall component directly enables local privilege escalation from an already-obtained lower-privileged context.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v18.1

NVD Description

In KeyInstall, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for…

more

exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS10276761; Issue ID: MSV-5141.

Deeper analysisAI

CVE-2025-20795 is a vulnerability in the KeyInstall component that enables an out-of-bounds write due to a missing bounds check. Published on 2026-01-06, it is tracked under CWE-787 and carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The issue affects MediaTek products, as detailed in their product security bulletin.

A local attacker with low privileges, specifically one who has already obtained System privilege, can exploit this vulnerability to achieve local escalation of privilege. Exploitation requires no user interaction and has low complexity, potentially granting high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.

MediaTek's January 2026 product security bulletin provides mitigation details, including Patch ID ALPS10276761 for addressing Issue ID MSV-5141. Security practitioners should apply the referenced patch to vulnerable systems.

Details

CWE(s)

Affected Products

google
android
13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.0

CVEs Like This One

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CVE-2025-20780Same product: Google Android
CVE-2025-20800Same product: Google Android
CVE-2026-20416Same product: Google Android

References