Overview
The CVE-2025-20708 is a critical vulnerability within the Modem that may allow an attacker to remotely escalate their privileges, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability is particularly alarming as it does not require user interaction for exploitation, meaning an attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability without the knowledge of the user. This can potentially affect any user who has connected their User Equipment (UE) to a rogue base station controlled by an attacker. The severity of this vulnerability and its potential impacts make it a pressing issue for all users and network administrators.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-20708
Severity: Critical (CVSS: 8.1)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Modem | All versions before patch MOLY01123853
How the Exploit Works
This exploit leverages a flaw in the bounds checking of the Modem, leading to a possible out of bounds write. The attacker, controlling a rogue base station, can manipulate the information being transmitted to the UE. The incorrect bounds check in the Modem allows the attacker to write data outside the allocated bounds. This out-of-bounds write can lead to remote escalation of privilege, granting the attacker unauthorized access and control over the system.
Conceptual Example Code
For illustrative purposes only, an example of how this vulnerability might be exploited follows. This is a conceptual representation and not an actual code:
# Attacker controls rogue base station
# Sends manipulated information to the UE
$ echo -n "malicious_data" > /dev/rogue_base_station
# The incorrect bounds check in Modem allows out-of-bounds write
# Leads to remote privilege escalation
Mitigation Guidance
To protect your system from this vulnerability, apply the vendor-supplied patch, MOLY01123853. If you’re unable to apply the patch immediately, consider using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as temporary mitigation. As always, avoiding connection to untrusted networks and base stations can also help prevent exploitation.