# CVE-2026-20529: MediaTek battery out of bounds write privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20529-in-battery-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-write-due-to-a  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-05. Updated: 2026-10-05  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20529 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.7 · Published 2026-10-05

MediaTek chipsets used in Android smartphones contain a memory corruption vulnerability in the battery management component that can be exploited by attackers who have already gained system-level access to escalate privileges further. An attacker with system privileges could use this flaw to execute arbitrary code with elevated permissions, potentially gaining complete control of the device.

Technologies: [MediaTek MT2716 Chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt2716-chipset), [MediaTek MT2735 chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt2735-chipset), [MediaTek MT2737 chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt2737-chipset), [MediaTek MT6835 Chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6835-chipset), [MediaTek MT6858 Chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6858-chipset), [MediaTek MT6878 Chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6878-chipset), [MediaTek MT6880 chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6880-chipset), [MediaTek MT6881 Chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6881-chipset), [MediaTek MT6890 chipset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mt6890-chipset). Vendors: [MediaTek](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mediatek).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20529 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20529 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20529?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.7, published 5 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** MediaTek MT2716 chipset; MediaTek MT2735 chipset; MediaTek MT2737 chipset; MediaTek MT6813 chipset; and 22 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20529?** 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-2026-20529 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20529?** Check whether you run MediaTek MT2716 Chipset, MediaTek MT2735 chipset, MediaTek MT2737 chipset or one of the others listed. 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

A missing bounds check in the battery subsystem allows an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) affecting numerous MediaTek chipsets. The vulnerability requires pre-existing system privilege but no user interaction for exploitation, allowing privilege escalation within the device. This affects multiple Dimensity and Helio chipset families used in smartphones.

## Affected products

- MediaTek MT2716 chipset
- MediaTek MT2735 chipset
- MediaTek MT2737 chipset
- MediaTek MT6813 chipset
- MediaTek MT6815 chipset
- MediaTek MT6833 chipset
- MediaTek MT6835 chipset
- MediaTek MT6853 chipset
- MediaTek MT6855 chipset
- MediaTek MT6858 chipset
- MediaTek MT6873 chipset
- MediaTek MT6875 chipset
- MediaTek MT6877 chipset
- MediaTek MT6878 chipset
- MediaTek MT6879 chipset
- MediaTek MT6880 chipset
- MediaTek MT6881 chipset
- MediaTek MT6883 chipset
- MediaTek MT6885 chipset
- MediaTek MT6886 chipset
- MediaTek MT6889 chipset
- MediaTek MT6890 chipset
- MediaTek MT6891 chipset
- MediaTek MT6893 chipset
- MediaTek MT6895 chipset
- MediaTek MT6896 chipset

## Timeline

- 2026-10-05: disclosed

## References

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

## Related threats

- [MediaTek display out-of-bounds write privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20530-in-display-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-write-due-to-a)
- [MediaTek Audio HAL information disclosure via improper input validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20513-mediatek-audio-hal-information-disclosure-via-improper-input)
- [MediaTek Audio HAL heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20478-mediatek-audio-hal-heap-buffer-overflow)