CVE-2023-20663 in MT5221
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2023
In wlan, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07560741; Issue ID: ALPS07560741.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-20663 resides within the wireless local area network subsystem of an android-based operating system, specifically affecting the wlan component. This issue represents a critical security flaw that could potentially enable attackers to escalate their privileges from a regular user context to system-level execution privileges. The vulnerability manifests through an integer overflow condition that occurs during memory allocation operations within the wireless networking framework, creating a scenario where malicious code could manipulate memory boundaries to execute arbitrary instructions with elevated privileges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic within the wlan driver or framework code. When processing wireless network data packets or managing wireless connection parameters, the system performs calculations that can result in integer overflow conditions. This overflow occurs when an integer variable exceeds its maximum representable value, causing the value to wrap around to a much smaller number. The flaw specifically affects memory allocation routines where calculated buffer sizes or array indices become corrupted due to this overflow, leading to a situation where memory writes occur beyond the intended boundaries of allocated buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a potential attack vector for persistent system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute code with system-level privileges, potentially gaining complete control over the device's wireless functionality and underlying system resources. This includes the ability to modify wireless network configurations, access sensitive data stored within wireless components, and potentially establish persistent backdoors through wireless communication channels. The attack requires no user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically when the device connects to wireless networks or processes wireless data.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and privilege escalation attacks. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly those involving kernel exploits and system-level code execution. The integer overflow creates a memory corruption vulnerability that can be leveraged to overwrite critical system structures, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the wireless networking subsystem and gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The patch ID ALPS07560741 represents a targeted fix that addresses the specific integer overflow condition within the wlan component's memory management routines. The fix likely involves implementing proper bounds checking for integer calculations used in buffer sizing and array indexing operations, ensuring that calculated values remain within valid ranges before memory allocation occurs. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying this patch to all affected devices, particularly those running vulnerable versions of the android operating system. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous wireless activity that could indicate exploitation attempts, and maintain regular security assessments of wireless networking components to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components.