CVE-2025-20667 in MT2735
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2025
In Modem, there is a possible information disclosure due to incorrect error handling. This could lead to remote information disclosure, if a UE has connected to a rogue base station controlled by the attacker, with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: MOLY01513293; Issue ID: MSV-2741.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2026
This vulnerability exists within the modem component of mobile devices and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that can be exploited remotely without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction. The issue stems from improper error handling mechanisms within the modem's communication protocols when processing connections from malicious base stations. When a user equipment device connects to a rogue base station controlled by an attacker, the modem's flawed error handling routines inadvertently expose sensitive information through malformed responses or improper data sanitization. The vulnerability specifically affects the modem's ability to correctly process and handle error conditions during network communication, creating a pathway for attackers to extract confidential data from the device. This represents a significant security gap in mobile network security protocols where the device itself becomes a vector for information leakage.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in proper error state management within the modem firmware, which aligns with common weakness patterns identified in CWE-248, where an exception is thrown but not properly caught, leading to unintended information exposure. The flaw operates at the network protocol level where the modem fails to properly sanitize or validate error responses when communicating with unauthorized network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this weakness by establishing connections through rogue base stations that trigger specific error conditions within the modem, causing it to return sensitive data such as memory contents, configuration parameters, or authentication tokens. The attack requires no user interaction because the exploitation occurs automatically during the connection establishment process, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by a device connecting to malicious infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the mobile security ecosystem. Remote attackers who can position rogue base stations in proximity to target devices can exploit this flaw to gather device-specific information that could aid in subsequent attacks, including device fingerprinting, location tracking, or credential harvesting. The vulnerability affects all devices running the affected modem firmware version and represents a fundamental weakness in the mobile network security architecture. This issue particularly concerns mobile network operators and device manufacturers who must ensure their modem implementations properly handle error conditions without exposing sensitive data to unauthorized parties. The lack of required execution privileges or user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly concerning from a threat modeling perspective, as it can be exploited automatically upon device connection to malicious infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on firmware updates that correct the error handling mechanisms within the modem component, specifically addressing how the device processes and responds to error conditions when connecting to unauthorized base stations. Network operators should implement additional monitoring for rogue base station activity and consider deploying network-level controls to detect and block suspicious connection attempts. Device manufacturers should review their modem firmware implementations to ensure proper error state management and implement additional data sanitization measures during error processing. The patch MOLY01513293 specifically addresses this issue by correcting the error handling routines and ensuring that sensitive information is not exposed during abnormal connection states. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and enhanced monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper error handling in security-critical components and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant information disclosure risks in mobile communications systems. The attack pattern aligns with techniques documented in ATT&CK matrix under T1566 for initial access through malicious network infrastructure, making this a critical vulnerability for mobile security teams to address immediately.