# CVE-2026-20573: MediaTek AFE double free memory corruption

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20573-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-memory-corruption-due-to-double-free  
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-2026-20573 · Severity: info · Published 2026-11-02

A memory corruption flaw in MediaTek's AFE (audio front-end) component can be exploited to escalate privileges on devices running MediaTek chipsets. An attacker who already has system-level access can trigger a double-free vulnerability to corrupt memory and gain unauthorized control. No user interaction is required for exploitation.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20573 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20573 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20573?** Informational severity, published 2 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** MediaTek Afe unknown.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20573?** 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-2026-20573 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20573?** Check whether you run MediaTek Afe 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 double-free vulnerability exists in the MediaTek AFE component, allowing memory corruption when the same memory region is freed twice. An attacker with existing System privilege can exploit this to corrupt heap metadata and achieve local privilege escalation. The attack requires no user interaction and affects MediaTek chipsets across multiple product lines.

## Affected products

- MediaTek AFE unknown

## 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 use-after-free memory corruption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20571-in-afe-there-is-a-possible-memory-corruption-due-to-use-after)
- [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)