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MediaTek Chipset CVE-2026-20475

| EUVDEUVD-2026-52064 MEDIUM
Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787)
2026-08-03 MediaTek GHSA-7779-c4hg-x9wj
6.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: MediaTek
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Gain initial device foothold
  2. Delivery
    Escalate to System-level privilege via separate vector
  3. Exploit
    Craft malicious display subsystem operation
  4. Execution
    Trigger missing bounds check in display driver
  5. Persist
    Write out-of-bounds into adjacent memory
  6. Impact
    Corrupt kernel structures for further privilege escalation

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, write limits
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the attacker to have already obtained System-level privilege on the targeted device (PR:H), making this a post-compromise escalation technique rather than an initial access vector. The attack is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have code execution on the device. No user interaction is required (UI:N). The vulnerable component is the display subsystem; no specific non-default configuration setting is required beyond having System privilege. Key limiting factors: the System privilege prerequisite is a substantial barrier on Android's privilege model; the attack surface is restricted to local device access only; and no automation of exploitation is feasible per SSVC (Automatable: no), suggesting manual or targeted exploitation chains are the realistic threat model.

Impact

The CVSS base score of 6.0 reflects the significant mitigating factor of PR:H - exploitation requires the attacker to have already achieved System-level privilege, which is a high bar on Android platforms. The AV:L local vector further limits exposure to device-local access only. Despite these constraints, SSVC classifies technical impact as 'total,' consistent with the C:H/I:H impact metrics. The very low EPSS score (0.14%, 4th percentile) and SSVC exploitation status of 'none' together indicate no observed or anticipated widespread exploitation. No conflict is detected between the CVSS vector and the description. The primary real-world risk is as a second-stage payload in a chained exploit: an attacker first gains System access through another vector, then uses this flaw to further escalate. Absent an active exploitation campaign, this is a moderate-priority patch for affected OEM/ODM partners rather than an emergency response item.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has already compromised a MediaTek-based Android device to System-level privilege crafts a malicious display operation that triggers the missing bounds check, writing attacker-controlled data beyond the allocated buffer in the display subsystem. This memory corruption enables overwriting adjacent kernel structures or function pointers, potentially elevating execution context or compromising sensitive memory. No public exploit or proof-of-concept code has been identified at time of analysis.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
No patch listed yet 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 03, 2026

Local privilege escalation in MediaTek's display subsystem affects 17 chipset variants used in Android devices, allowing an attacker who has already obtained System-level privilege to exploit a missing bounds check (CWE-787) and write out of bounds in display memory, achieving high confidentiality and integrity impact. The CVSS vector (PR:H/AV:L) confirms this is not an initial-access vector - it is a post-compromise escalation step requiring pre-existing System privilege. No public exploit has been identified, EPSS stands at 0.14% (4th percentile), and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV, consistent with SSVC's exploitation status of 'none.'

RemediationAI

Apply MediaTek patch ALPS11004276, distributed through the August 2026 MediaTek Product Security Bulletin at https://www.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/August-2026. OEM and ODM partners integrating affected chipsets must incorporate this patch into their device firmware and push updates through their own over-the-air (OTA) update channels. An exact patched firmware version is not independently confirmed from available data - consult the MediaTek bulletin directly for version specifics. As a compensating control where patching is delayed, restricting access to System-level processes through SELinux policy tightening or reducing attack surface via disabling unnecessary display-related privileged services can raise the bar for exploitation, though these do not address the root cause and carry risk of breaking legitimate functionality.

Affected VersionsENISA

MediaTek chipset MT8766
MediaTek chipset MT8171
MediaTek chipset MT8188
MediaTek chipset MT8126
MediaTek chipset MT6993
MediaTek chipset MT8676
MediaTek chipset MT8910
MediaTek chipset MT8189
MediaTek chipset MT6991
MediaTek chipset MT8678
MediaTek chipset MT8367
MediaTek chipset MT8768
MediaTek chipset MT8791T
MediaTek chipset MT8668
MediaTek chipset MT8786
MediaTek chipset MT8799
MediaTek chipset MT8781

Affects your stack

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Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw resides in MediaTek's display driver/subsystem (tagged as display in the bulletin), where a missing bounds check allows an out-of-bounds write - classified as CWE-787. The root cause is a failure to validate buffer boundaries before writing, a common source of memory corruption in low-level hardware drivers. Affected CPE is cpe:2.3:a:mediatek,_inc.:mediatek_chipset:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, covering a broad generation of MediaTek SoCs. These chipsets are embedded in Android-based consumer and commercial devices; the display subsystem runs with elevated kernel or privileged context, making any memory corruption there a candidate for privilege escalation. Patch ID ALPS11004276 and Issue ID MSV-7748 are the internal MediaTek tracking identifiers.

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Severity by source

Vendor (MediaTek) PRIMARY 6.0 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
vuln.today AI 6.0 MEDIUM

Local vector and PR:H reflect required pre-existing System privilege; C:H/I:H capture memory corruption impact; A:N as no availability disruption is described.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (MediaTek).

CVSS VectorVendor: MediaTek

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

In display, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS11004276; Issue ID: MSV-7748.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 96% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
widely used in mid-range Android smartphones globally
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

30
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +30
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.

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