# CVE-2026-20506: MediaTek Audio HAL use after free privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20506-mediatek-audio-hal-use-after-free-privilege-escalation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-07. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20506 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.7 · Published 2026-09-07

MediaTek's Audio Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) contains a memory safety vulnerability that can allow privilege escalation on devices using affected MediaTek chipsets. An attacker who already has system-level access can exploit this flaw to elevate their privileges further, potentially gaining complete control over the device and compromising user data or device functionality.

Technologies: [MediaTek Audio HAL](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/audio-hal). Vendors: [MediaTek](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mediatek).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20506 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20506 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20506?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.7, published 7 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** MediaTek Audio HAL.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20506?** A patch was published on 2026-09-07: Patch ID ALPS11191981 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-20506 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20506?** Check whether you run MediaTek Audio HAL. 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 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Audio HAL component of MediaTek chipsets. The vulnerability occurs when memory that has already been freed is accessed, potentially allowing an attacker to read or write arbitrary memory. Exploitation requires the attacker to already possess system privilege; no user interaction is necessary. This leads to local privilege escalation. A patch has been made available (ALPS11191981) and affected device OEMs have been notified.

## Affected products

- MediaTek Audio HAL

## Timeline

- 2026-09-07: disclosed
- 2026-09-07: patched: Patch ID ALPS11191981

## References

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

## Related threats

- [MediaTek Audio HAL information disclosure due to missing permission check](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20514-mediatek-audio-hal-information-disclosure-due-to-missing)
- [MediaTek Audio HAL privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20512-mediatek-audio-hal-privilege-escalation)
- [MediaTek Audio HAL improper access control](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-21030-mediatek-audio-hal-improper-access-control)