# CVE-2026-20514: MediaTek Audio HAL information disclosure due to missing permission check

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20514-mediatek-audio-hal-information-disclosure-due-to-missing  
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-2026-20514 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.4 · Published 2026-09-07

MediaTek's Audio Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) contains a permission validation flaw that allows information disclosure. An attacker who has already gained System-level privileges on a device can read sensitive audio-related data without additional user interaction, potentially exposing system state, configuration, or audio stream metadata.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20514 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20514 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20514?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.4, published 7 September 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20514?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-20514 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20514?** Check whether you run MediaTek Audio HAL 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 missing permission check in the Audio HAL component, allowing unauthorized information access (CWE class: authorization/permission bypass). The root cause is insufficient validation of caller permissions before exposing sensitive audio subsystem data. The attack vector is local; the attacker must already possess System privilege. No user interaction is required for exploitation. A successful exploit allows an authenticated local attacker to disclose sensitive information from the audio HAL, which may reveal system configuration or operational state. Patch ALPS11087632 addresses this issue.

## Affected products

- MediaTek Audio HAL Unknown

## Timeline

- 2026-09-07: disclosed

## References

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

## Related threats

- [MediaTek Audio HAL privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20512-mediatek-audio-hal-privilege-escalation)
- [MediaTek Audio HAL use after free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20506-mediatek-audio-hal-use-after-free-privilege-escalation)
- [MediaTek Audio HAL improper access control](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-21030-mediatek-audio-hal-improper-access-control)