# CVE-2026-20485: MediaTek HFRP out-of-bounds write privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20485-mediatek-hfrp-out-of-bounds-write-privilege-escalation  
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-2026-20485 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6 · Published 2026-08-03

MediaTek's HFRP (a component used in mobile chipsets) contains a missing bounds check that allows an attacker with System-level privileges to write data outside allocated memory. This vulnerability enables privilege escalation and could potentially allow an attacker to gain complete control of the device or cause it to malfunction.

Technologies: [MediaTek MT6993](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6993), [MediaTek Mt6993 Firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6993-firmware). Vendors: [MediaTek](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mediatek).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20485 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20485 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20485?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6, published 3 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** MediaTek HFRP.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20485?** A patch was published on 2026-08-03: Patch ID ALPS11049569 released Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-20485 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20485?** Check whether you run MediaTek HFRP, MediaTek MT6993 or MediaTek Mt6993 Firmware. 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

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in MediaTek's HFRP component, caused by a missing bounds check. An attacker who has already obtained System privilege can exploit this vulnerability without requiring user interaction to achieve local privilege escalation. The affected component likely resides in the firmware or bootloader code executed with elevated privileges. MediaTek has released patches (Patch ID: ALPS11049569) and this issue has not been observed in active exploitation as of the advisory publication date.

## Affected products

- MediaTek HFRP

## Timeline

- 2026-08-03: disclosed
- 2026-08-03: patched: Patch ID ALPS11049569 released

## References

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

## Related threats

- [MediaTek GPU use after free leading to system crash](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20515-mediatek-gpu-use-after-free-leading-to-system-crash)
- [MediaTek Modem system crash due to missing bounds check](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20503-mediatek-modem-system-crash-due-to-missing-bounds-check)
- [MediaTek vdec out of bounds write](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20502-mediatek-vdec-out-of-bounds-write)
- [MediaTek vdec heap buffer overflow privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20501-mediatek-vdec-heap-buffer-overflow-privilege-escalation)
- [MediaTek Modem system crash due to improper input validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20500-mediatek-modem-system-crash-due-to-improper-input-validation)