# CVE-2026-20480: MediaTek Audio HAL heap buffer overflow

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20480-mediatek-audio-hal-heap-buffer-overflow  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-03. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20480 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.5 · Published 2026-08-03

MediaTek's Audio HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) is a critical audio processing component used in smartphones and IoT devices. A heap buffer overflow vulnerability allows a local attacker with user privileges to cause a denial of service or potentially execute code, impacting device stability and security.

Technologies: [MediaTek MT2735](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt2735), [MediaTek Mt2735 Firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt2735-firmware), [MediaTek MT2737](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt2737), [MediaTek Mt2737 Firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt2737-firmware), [MediaTek Mt6880](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6880), [MediaTek Mt6880 Firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6880-firmware), [MediaTek Mt6890](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6890), [MediaTek Mt6890 Firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6890-firmware), [MediaTek Mt6980d](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6980d), [MediaTek MT6988](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6988), [MediaTek Mt6988 Firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6988-firmware), [MediaTek MT6990](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6990), [MediaTek Mt6990 Firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6990-firmware). Vendors: [MediaTek](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mediatek).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20480 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20480 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20480?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 3 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** MediaTek MT2735 <UNKNOWN>; MediaTek MT3737 <UNKNOWN>; MediaTek Mt6880 <UNKNOWN>; MediaTek Mt6890 <UNKNOWN>; and 3 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20480?** A patch was published on 2026-08-03: Patches available: ALPS10960023 (MT6880, MT6890, MT6980D, MT6988, MT6990) and AUTO00851189 (MT2735, MT3737) Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-20480 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20480?** Check whether you run MediaTek MT2735, MediaTek Mt2735 Firmware, MediaTek MT2737 or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

This vulnerability is a heap buffer overflow in the Audio HAL component, classified as CWE-787 (out-of-bounds write). The flaw allows local code execution with user privileges to write beyond heap buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption. No user interaction is required for exploitation. The vulnerability affects multiple MediaTek chipsets including MT6880, MT6890, MT6980D, MT6988, MT6990, MT2735, and MT3737. Patches are available via Patch ID ALPS10960023 and AUTO00851189 depending on the chipset.

## Affected products

- MediaTek MT6880 <UNKNOWN>
- MediaTek MT6890 <UNKNOWN>
- MediaTek MT6980D <UNKNOWN>
- MediaTek MT6988 <UNKNOWN>
- MediaTek MT6990 <UNKNOWN>
- MediaTek MT2735 <UNKNOWN>
- MediaTek MT3737 <UNKNOWN>

## Timeline

- 2026-08-03: disclosed
- 2026-08-03: patched: Patches available: ALPS10960023 (MT6880, MT6890, MT6980D, MT6988, MT6990) and AUTO00851189 (MT2735, MT3737)

## References

- [https://www.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/August-2026](https://www.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/August-2026)

## Related threats

- [MediaTek ccci out of bounds write](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20552-in-ccci-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-write-due-to-a-missing)
- [MediaTek vdec out-of-bounds write in type confusion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20579-in-vdec-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-write-due-to-type)
- [MediaTek out of bounds write in modem](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20544-in-meta-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-write-due-to-a-missing)
- [MediaTek Modem information disclosure due to logic error](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20543-in-modem-there-is-a-possible-information-disclosure-due-to-a)
- [MediaTek Modem out-of-bounds read due to missing permission check](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20538-in-modem-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-read-due-to-a-missing)