CVE-2025-20796
Published: 06 January 2026
Summary
CVE-2025-20796 is a high-severity Improper Validation of Specified Index, Position, or Offset in Input (CWE-1285) 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).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-20796 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the imgsys component due to improper input validation. This issue affects MediaTek systems, as indicated by the associated patch ID ALPS10314745 and issue ID MSV-5553. The vulnerability 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) and is linked to CWE-1285 (Out-of-bounds Write).
Exploitation requires a local attacker who has already obtained System privileges, with user interaction needed to trigger the issue. Successful exploitation could lead to local escalation of privilege, potentially granting higher-level access and resulting in high impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
MediaTek's January 2026 Product Security Bulletin at https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/January-2026 details the patch (ALPS10314745) addressing this vulnerability, recommending affected users apply the update to mitigate the risk of escalation from System privileges.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-0965
Vulnerability details
In imgsys, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Patch…
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ID: ALPS10314745; Issue ID: MSV-5553.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Out-of-bounds write enabling local privilege escalation from System privileges on MediaTek devices directly matches T1068.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly addresses the improper input validation in imgsys that enables the out-of-bounds write vulnerability.
Ensures timely flaw remediation by applying the specific patch ALPS10314745 to eliminate the vulnerability.
Implements memory protections that prevent exploitation of the out-of-bounds write for local privilege escalation.