CVE-2023-20628 in MT6580
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2023
In thermal, there is a possible memory corruption due to an uncaught exception. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07494460; Issue ID: ALPS07494460.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-20628 resides within the thermal management subsystem of a mobile operating system, specifically affecting the Android platform. This issue represents a critical memory corruption flaw that stems from an unhandled exception within the thermal daemon or related system components responsible for monitoring and managing device temperature. The thermal subsystem plays a crucial role in maintaining device stability and performance by regulating processor frequency and power consumption based on temperature readings. When temperature thresholds are exceeded, the system should gracefully handle these conditions through established error handling mechanisms, but in this case, an exception goes uncaught and leads to unpredictable system behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the category of memory corruption flaws, which are commonly classified under CWE-121 as "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" or similar memory safety issues. The uncaught exception scenario creates a condition where the system's memory management becomes compromised, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate memory contents or execute arbitrary code. This particular flaw requires system execution privileges for exploitation, indicating that it operates at a privileged level within the kernel or system daemon space. The fact that no user interaction is required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically without any deliberate action from the end user.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-20628 extends beyond simple system instability into the realm of local privilege escalation, where an attacker with limited access could potentially elevate their privileges to system level. This escalation path represents a significant security risk as it could allow malicious actors to gain complete control over the device, access all stored data, modify system files, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the thermal subsystem's ability to properly handle exceptional conditions, which could lead to system crashes, unexpected reboots, or more sinisterly, provide a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The patch identifier ALPS07494460 suggests this vulnerability was addressed through a specific system update that likely implemented proper exception handling mechanisms within the thermal management code.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves the exploitation of a remote or local system to gain elevated privileges. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vector particularly attractive for automated exploitation campaigns, as it can be triggered silently during normal device operation. Security professionals should note that thermal management systems are often overlooked in security assessments, making vulnerabilities like this particularly insidious. The patch for CVE-2023-20628 would typically involve implementing proper exception handling, adding bounds checking, and ensuring that all potential error conditions are properly managed within the thermal subsystem. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this patch across all affected devices and consider monitoring for unusual thermal events or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust error handling in system-level components and highlights how seemingly benign subsystems can become critical attack vectors when proper security measures are not implemented.