CVE-2026-20551 in MT2737
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In gnss, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS11309305; Issue ID: MSV-10730.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified under issue identifier MSV-10730 and addressed by patch ALPS11309305 resides within the Global Navigation Satellite System, commonly referred to as GNSS, subsystem of the affected software environment. This component is responsible for processing satellite signal data to determine precise geographic location, velocity, and time information. The core technical flaw involves a missing bounds check during memory allocation or array indexing operations associated with the parsing or handling of incoming GNSS data streams. Specifically, when the system processes certain malformed or unexpectedly large input structures derived from satellite signals or simulated test vectors, it fails to validate that the requested write operation remains within the allocated buffer boundaries. This oversight allows an attacker who can influence the input parameters to trigger a memory corruption event where data is written beyond the intended limits of the designated memory segment.
This specific type of flaw is classified under Common Weakness Enumeration as CWE-787, which denotes out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. Such errors are particularly dangerous because they compromise the integrity of adjacent memory structures, potentially overwriting critical control data such as return addresses or function pointers if the vulnerability occurs in a context where executable code flow can be manipulated. However, in this specific instance within the GNSS module, the immediate and most likely consequence is not arbitrary code execution but rather a local denial of service. The out-of-bounds write corrupts internal state variables or heap metadata that are essential for the stable operation of the location services engine. When these structures become corrupted, the application handling the GNSS data may crash, freeze, or enter an unrecoverable error state, effectively rendering the device unable to provide accurate positioning information until a reboot occurs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for applications that rely on continuous and reliable geolocation data. For mobile devices running Android-based operating systems with MediaTek chipsets, as implied by the patch ID format, GNSS functionality is integral to navigation apps, emergency services, location-based social networking, and fleet tracking systems. A denial of service in this context means that users may find their maps applications unresponsive or displaying incorrect static locations when they attempt to use them during an incident requiring precise positioning. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction for exploitation, it likely manifests through specific actions such as opening a maliciously crafted location-based file, interacting with a compromised application that triggers excessive GNSS polling with malformed data, or potentially via sophisticated spoofing attacks where an attacker provides manipulated signal simulations to trigger the parsing logic within the OS layer.
From a threat modeling perspective aligned with MITRE ATT&CK frameworks, this vulnerability falls under techniques related to resource exhaustion and service disruption rather than privilege escalation or remote code execution. It does not require additional execution privileges because it exploits a flaw in a system component that typically runs with elevated permissions but is triggered by user-level interactions. The lack of required privileges for the attacker makes exploitation more feasible compared to vulnerabilities requiring root access, yet the necessity for user interaction limits its scope as an automated wormable threat. Instead, it represents a targeted or opportunistic denial-of-service vector against location-dependent services.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on the deployment of the provided patch ALPS11309305, which introduces rigorous input validation and boundary checks before any memory write operations are executed within the GNSS processing pipeline. Security engineers should ensure that all devices running affected versions receive this update promptly to restore the integrity of location services. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, defensive measures include implementing strict rate limiting on GNSS data requests to prevent rapid-fire malformed inputs from overwhelming the parser and deploying application whitelisting to restrict which applications can access high-frequency location updates. Additionally, monitoring for abnormal crashes in location-related processes can serve as an early warning indicator of exploitation attempts, allowing administrators to isolate affected devices before widespread service disruption occurs.