CVE-2026-20506
Received Received - Intake

Audio HAL Use After Free Privilege Escalation

Publication date: 2026-09-07

Last updated on: 2026-09-07

Assigner: MediaTek, Inc.

Description
In Audio HAL, there is a possible escalation of privilege due to use after free. This could lead to local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS11191981; Issue ID: MSV-9126.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-07
Last Modified
2026-09-07
Generated
2026-09-07
AI Q&A
2026-09-07
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-20506
EUVD
EUVD-2026-72199

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
mediatek audio_hardware_abstraction_layer to 2026-09-01 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-416 The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-20506 is a medium-severity vulnerability in MediaTek chipsets affecting the Audio Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). It involves a use-after-free flaw that could allow privilege escalation if an attacker already has System privilege access.

Detection Guidance

Detection of CVE-2026-20506 requires checking for affected MediaTek chipsets and Audio HAL versions. Review device firmware versions against MediaTek's September 2026 bulletin. No specific commands are provided in the context for direct detection.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker with existing System privilege to escalate their access level, potentially gaining control over device functions. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data or device manipulation.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with GDPR or HIPAA as it involves a local privilege escalation in MediaTek chipsets. However, if exploited, it could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, potentially impacting compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR or HIPAA depending on the device's use case and data handling.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the security patches provided by MediaTek to affected devices. Since manufacturers were notified two months prior, check for updates from your device vendor. Ensure Audio HAL components are updated to patched versions.

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