CVE-2025-20697

Local privilege escalation via unchecked Power HAL write

Published Aug 4, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in MediaTek Power HAL on Android 14.0 and 15.0 allows local users with System privilege to escalate privileges. The Power HAL writes beyond an intended buffer because a required bounds check is missing; MediaTek has not disclosed the specific function or input. Exploitation requires prior System privilege and no user interaction, and MediaTek does not identify the resulting privilege level.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in MediaTek Power HAL on Android 14.0 and 15.0 allows local users with System privilege to escalate privileges. The Power HAL writes beyond an intended buffer because a required bounds check is missing; MediaTek has not disclosed the specific function or input. Exploitation requires prior System privilege and no user interaction, and MediaTek does not identify the resulting privilege level.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-20697
Published
Aug 4, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.7CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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