# CVE-2026-20571: MediaTek afe use-after-free memory corruption

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20571-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-memory-corruption-due-to-use-after  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-02. Updated: 2026-11-02  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20571 · Severity: info · Published 2026-11-02

MediaTek's afe component contains a use-after-free memory corruption vulnerability that could allow privilege escalation. An attacker who has already obtained system-level access could exploit this flaw without user interaction to elevate their privileges further on affected devices.

Technologies: [MediaTek Afe](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/afe). Vendors: [MediaTek](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mediatek).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20571 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20571 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20571?** Informational severity, published 2 November 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20571?** 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-2026-20571 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20571?** Check whether you run MediaTek Afe. 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 use-after-free vulnerability in the afe component allows local privilege escalation. The vulnerability requires the attacker to already have system privilege; exploitation does not require user interaction. This memory corruption could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code at a higher privilege level.

## Affected products

- MediaTek afe

## Timeline

- 2026-11-02: disclosed

## References

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

## Related threats

- [MediaTek afe out of bounds write privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20576-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-write-due-to-a-missing)
- [MediaTek AFE use-after-free memory corruption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20575-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-memory-corruption-due-to-use-after)
- [MediaTek afe use-after-free memory corruption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20574-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-memory-corruption-due-to-use-after)
- [MediaTek AFE double free memory corruption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20573-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-memory-corruption-due-to-double-free)
- [MediaTek afe out-of-bounds write privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20567-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-out-of-bounds-write-due-to-a-missing)