CVE-2025-20670 in MT2737
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2025
In Modem, there is a possible permission bypass due to improper certificate validation. This could lead to remote information disclosure, if a UE has connected to a rogue base station controlled by the attacker, with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Patch ID: MOLY01334347; Issue ID: MSV-2772.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-20670 resides within the modem component of mobile devices, specifically addressing a critical permission bypass flaw stemming from inadequate certificate validation mechanisms. This weakness manifests when a user equipment device connects to a malicious base station controlled by an attacker, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability requires user execution privileges for exploitation and necessitates user interaction to initiate the attack vector, making it particularly concerning for mobile network security. The issue has been assigned a patch identifier MOLY01334347 and internal issue reference MSV-2772, indicating it was addressed within a specific vendor's codebase.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation of digital certificates during the modem authentication process, which falls under the broader category of certificate validation flaws. This type of vulnerability typically maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in cybersecurity contexts. The flaw allows an attacker to potentially impersonate legitimate network infrastructure by presenting forged certificates that pass the device's validation checks, thereby bypassing normal security controls that would otherwise prevent unauthorized access to network resources. The certificate validation process is fundamental to establishing trust between mobile devices and network infrastructure, making this weakness particularly dangerous as it undermines the core security assumptions of mobile communications protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a potential attack surface for sophisticated adversaries to exploit mobile network connections. When a user equipment device connects to a rogue base station, the compromised certificate validation process enables attackers to intercept and potentially modify network traffic, access device information, or even execute further attacks on the connected device. The requirement for user execution privileges and interaction suggests that social engineering or physical proximity attacks may be necessary to initially establish the connection to the rogue base station, but once established, the attacker can leverage the certificate bypass to maintain persistent access. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of mobile communications, particularly concerning 4G and 5G networks where certificate validation is critical for network authentication.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms that adhere to industry standards such as those defined in the NIST SP 800-57 guidelines for cryptographic key management. Network operators should ensure that all modem firmware updates are applied promptly, particularly the patch MOLY01334347 that specifically addresses this issue. Device manufacturers should implement enhanced certificate pinning mechanisms that go beyond basic validation to include additional checks such as certificate chain verification, key usage restrictions, and revocation status checking. Security professionals should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous base station behavior or certificate mismatches that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1566 for "Phishing" and potentially T1046 for "Network Service Scanning" as attackers may need to establish initial contact with targets before exploiting this certificate validation weakness. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect and prevent unauthorized base station connections that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.