CVE-2023-20802 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE record was assigned by MediaTek and published on August 7, 2023. The vulnerability involves a memory corruption issue in imgsys due to improper input validation, potentially leading to local privilege escalation. User interaction is required for exploitation.

Understanding CVE-2023-20802

This section will provide insights into the nature and impact of CVE-2023-20802.

What is CVE-2023-20802?

CVE-2023-20802 is a vulnerability in imgsys, where improper input validation can result in memory corruption. This flaw could be exploited by an attacker to escalate privileges locally on the system. The affected systems require user interaction for the vulnerability to be leveraged.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20802

The impact of CVE-2023-20802 includes the potential for an attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system by exploiting the memory corruption issue in imgsys. This could lead to unauthorized access and control over the affected device.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20802

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including the description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in imgsys stems from improper input validation, which could result in memory corruption. To exploit this flaw successfully, an attacker would need to interact with the user and perform specific actions to escalate their privileges on the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impact MediaTek products including MT6879, MT6895, MT6983, MT8188, MT8195, MT8395, and MT8781. The affected versions include Android 12.0, 13.0, and IOT-v23.0 (Yocto 4.0).

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2023-20802 requires user interaction as the attacker needs to manipulate the input to trigger memory corruption in imgsys. This manipulation could lead to the escalation of privileges on the affected system.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20802 and prevent potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

To address CVE-2023-20802, users are advised to apply the provided patch ID: ALPS07420968 and Issue ID: ALPS07420976 to their MediaTek devices promptly. Additionally, users should exercise caution and avoid interacting with unknown or suspicious content that could trigger the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security practices such as keeping systems and applications up to date, educating users about safe internet practices, and regularly monitoring for unusual activities can enhance the long-term security posture against such vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly checking for updates and patches from MediaTek for the affected products is crucial to stay protected against vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-20802. Timely installation of security updates can help prevent exploitation and secure the devices from potential threats.