CVE-2026-20458 in MT2716
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2026
In Modem, there is a possible memory corruption due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote escalation of privilege, 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: MOLY01402160; Issue ID: MSV-7298.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2026
This vulnerability exists within modem firmware components where insufficient bounds checking allows for memory corruption conditions that can be exploited remotely. The flaw specifically manifests when a user equipment device connects to a malicious base station controlled by an attacker, creating a scenario where the modem processing routines fail to validate input data boundaries before writing to memory locations. The missing validation enables attackers to craft specially formatted communication packets that trigger buffer overflow conditions within the modem's memory management subsystem.
The security implications are severe as this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in mobile network environments where devices automatically connect to available networks. When a device connects to a rogue base station, the attacker can manipulate the communication protocols to cause memory corruption that potentially leads to privilege escalation. This represents a critical weakness in the modem's defensive mechanisms and demonstrates inadequate input validation practices within the wireless communication stack.
The operational impact extends beyond simple exploitation as this vulnerability enables attackers to gain elevated privileges on devices that are connected to compromised networks, potentially allowing for persistent access to sensitive communications, device control, or data exfiltration. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can target devices from considerable distances without physical access or user involvement. This vulnerability directly relates to common weakness enumerations such as CWE-129 and CWE-787 which address insufficient bounds checking and out-of-bounds writes respectively, and aligns with attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control communications and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within modem firmware to validate all input data before memory operations occur. Network operators should implement enhanced monitoring for suspicious base station activities and consider deploying network segmentation controls to limit the impact of compromised network elements. Device manufacturers should conduct thorough security reviews of modem components and ensure that all firmware updates include proper validation routines. The patch MOLY01402160 addresses this issue by introducing comprehensive bounds checking mechanisms that prevent memory corruption scenarios when processing data from untrusted network sources, effectively closing the privilege escalation pathway that attackers could exploit through rogue base station connections.