CVE-2026-20500 in MT2716
Summary
by MITRE • 09/07/2026
In Modem, there is a possible system crash due to improper input validation. This could lead to local denial of service with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Patch ID: MOLY01810811; Issue ID: MSV-9232.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2026
The vulnerability identified under issue identifier MSV-9232 and addressed by patch MOLY01810811 represents a critical flaw within the modem subsystem of the affected device, characterized by improper input validation mechanisms. This specific defect allows for an unexpected termination of system processes when malformed or maliciously crafted data is processed by the modem firmware. The root cause lies in the failure of the software to adequately sanitize or verify incoming inputs before they are utilized in critical operations within the modem stack. Such a lack of rigorous boundary checking and type validation creates a scenario where external actors can trigger undefined behavior, leading directly to system instability. This class of vulnerability is fundamentally categorized under CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, which encompasses any situation where software receives data that has not been thoroughly checked for correctness, completeness, or reasonableness before use.
The operational impact of this flaw is primarily a local denial of service condition. Because the vulnerability results in a system crash, it effectively renders the device non-functional until a reboot occurs, disrupting all network connectivity and associated services dependent on the modem hardware. The severity of this impact is compounded by the privilege requirements for exploitation; an attacker must possess user execution privileges to trigger the flaw. This means that while remote code execution or arbitrary command injection is not directly facilitated by this specific vector, the ability to crash the system from a standard user account significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors compared to vulnerabilities requiring root access. The requirement for user interaction further defines the attack surface, indicating that exploitation likely involves tricking a legitimate user into performing an action that triggers the malformed input processing, such as opening a specific file type or interacting with a compromised network service that sends crafted packets through the modem interface.
From a tactical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework for mobile platforms and general enterprise environments. The denial of service aspect corresponds to resource exhaustion attacks where an adversary aims to disrupt availability rather than compromise confidentiality or integrity. Specifically, it relates to techniques involving application crash exploitation or system-level disruption through invalid input handling. In the context of mobile device security, this falls under categories describing abuse of functionality or improper configuration that leads to instability. The need for user interaction places it within social engineering vectors where an attacker might deliver a payload via messaging apps, email attachments, or malicious web content that interacts with the modem driver stack.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term defensive posture improvements. The primary defense is the application of the provided patch MOLY01810811, which corrects the input validation logic within the modem firmware to properly handle edge cases and malformed data structures. Organizations should prioritize deploying this update across all affected devices in their inventory. Beyond patching, implementing strict network segmentation can limit the exposure of modems to untrusted networks, reducing the likelihood of encountering malicious inputs from external sources. Additionally, enforcing least-privilege principles ensures that even if an attacker gains user-level access, they cannot escalate privileges easily after triggering a crash or attempting further exploitation. Regular security audits and fuzzing tests on modem interfaces can help identify similar validation gaps before they are exploited in production environments.