# CVE-2026-20535: MediaTek AIDL privilege escalation due to missing permission check

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20535-in-aidl-there-is-a-possible-escalation-of-privilege-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-2026-20535 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.7 · Published 2026-10-05

MediaTek's AIDL (Android Interface Definition Language) service in various chipsets contains a privilege escalation vulnerability due to inadequate permission validation. An attacker with existing System-level privileges could exploit this flaw to escalate their access further, potentially gaining complete control of affected devices. No user interaction is required for exploitation.

Technologies: [MediaTek Dimensity 5G](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/dimensity-5g). Vendors: [MediaTek](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mediatek).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20535 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20535 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20535?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.7, published 5 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** MediaTek Dimensity 5G Multiple chipsets including MT2716, MT2735, MT2737, MT6813, MT6815, MT6833, MT6835, MT6853, MT6855, MT6858, MT6873, MT6875, MT6877, MT6878, MT6879, MT6880, MT6881, MT6883, MT6885, MT6886, MT6889, MT6890, MT6891, MT6893, MT6895, MT6896.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20535?** 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-2026-20535 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20535?** Check whether you run MediaTek Dimensity 5G 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

A missing permission check in AIDL allows privilege escalation on affected MediaTek chipsets when an attacker already possesses System privileges. The vulnerability requires local access and existing elevated privileges as a precondition; remote exploitation is not possible. Successful exploitation grants further privilege escalation, though the specific architectural impact depends on the device implementation.

## Affected products

- MediaTek Dimensity 5G Multiple chipsets including MT2716, MT2735, MT2737, MT6813, MT6815, MT6833, MT6835, MT6853, MT6855, MT6858, MT6873, MT6875, MT6877, MT6878, MT6879, MT6880, MT6881, MT6883, MT6885, MT6886, MT6889, MT6890, MT6891, MT6893, MT6895, MT6896

## Timeline

- 2026-10-05: disclosed

## References

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

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