Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessGain System privilege via prior exploit
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DeliveryAccess MediaTek Audio HAL process
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ExploitTrigger use-after-free on audio buffer
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ExecutionHeap-spray freed memory with payload
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PersistHijack execution flow
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ImpactAchieve higher-privilege code execution
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Memory lifecycle management
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 already possess System-level privilege on the target MediaTek device - this is a non-trivial prerequisite in the Android security model, typically requiring a prior exploit chain. Local device access is mandatory (AV:L); no network-based or remote exploitation path is described. No user interaction is required once System privilege is held. The vulnerability is specific to MediaTek chipsets listed above running the vulnerable Audio HAL version; devices not using affected MediaTek SoCs are not impacted. No special Audio HAL configuration or non-default feature is described as required. |
| Impact | The provided CVSS 3.1 score of 6.7 with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H accurately captures the constrained exploitability: the attacker must already hold System-level privilege on the target device, limiting the initial entry bar significantly. In the Android security model, a System privilege pre-condition means the attacker has likely already exploited a separate vulnerability - this CVE would form a second stage in a privilege escalation chain, not a standalone entry point. The C:H/I:H/A:H impact triad is realistic for a UAF-to-code-execution scenario. No KEV listing and no POC are identified, and the EPSS signal is not provided in source data. Real-world priority should be elevated for devices in regulated or enterprise Android deployments where full firmware integrity is critical, but for consumer threat models the prerequisite System privilege lowers urgency considerably. The massive chipset coverage (65+ models) means patch distribution coverage across OEM and carrier supply chains will be uneven - patched MediaTek-provided firmware may not reach end devices without separate OEM and carrier updates. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who has already compromised a system-privileged process on a MediaTek-based Android device - for example by chaining an app vulnerability with a previous System-level exploit - triggers the use-after-free in the Audio HAL by causing the HAL to access a previously freed audio buffer during a concurrent audio session. By controlling the freed memory's contents through heap manipulation (heap spray or allocation timing), the attacker redirects execution flow to achieve arbitrary code execution at a higher privilege level, such as the kernel or a TEE-adjacent context. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 07, 2026
Local privilege escalation in the MediaTek Audio Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) allows an attacker who has already obtained System-level privilege to further escalate to higher privileges via a use-after-free condition (CWE-416). The vulnerability affects over 65 MediaTek chipset models spanning Android smartphones, tablets, IoT, and connected-device SoCs. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing exists at time of analysis; however, the broad chipset surface across Android device families makes this relevant for any organization managing large Android fleets.
RemediationAI
Apply the MediaTek-provided patch ALPS11191981 as distributed through the September 2026 MediaTek Product Security Bulletin (https://www.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/September-2026). Device manufacturers (OEMs) and carriers must integrate and distribute this chipset-level fix in their Android security patch bundles - end users should ensure their devices are updated to a September 2026 or later Android Security Patch Level (ASPL) once their OEM releases it. For enterprise Android fleet managers, where timely OEM patching is uncertain, a compensating control is to enforce strict app-install policies (Google Play Protect + device attestation via Android Enterprise) to prevent untrusted code from obtaining System privilege in the first place, thereby blocking the prerequisite step. Devices with no OEM patch roadmap should be flagged for retirement or network segmentation. No workaround eliminates the underlying UAF; privilege reduction is the only viable mitigation short of the vendor patch.
Affected VersionsENISA
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Technical ContextAI · show details
The Android Audio HAL is a C/C++ shared library component that bridges the Android audio framework (AudioFlinger) with device-specific audio hardware drivers. MediaTek implements this layer in their proprietary Audio HAL, identified by CPE cpe:2.3:a:mediatek,_inc.:mediatek_chipset. CWE-416 (Use After Free) describes a memory-corruption class where a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been deallocated; on systems without strong ASLR defeat mitigations, this can be weaponized to redirect execution flow to attacker-controlled data. MediaTek's internal tracking references Patch ID ALPS11191981 and Issue ID MSV-9125, consistent with their standard product-security bulletin process. Affected chipsets span a very wide range including MT6761, MT6765, MT6769, MT6853, MT6877, MT6883, MT6885, MT6889, MT6985, MT8186, MT8365, MT8788E, and dozens more, covering low-end to flagship Android SoCs.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local access and pre-existing System privilege (PR:H) required; no scope change; full C/I/A impact achievable via UAF-to-code-execution on success.
Primary rating from Vendor (MediaTek).
CVSS VectorVendor: MediaTek
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
In Audio HAL, there is a possible escalation of privilege due to use after free. 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: ALPS11191981; Issue ID: MSV-9125.
Threat Intelligence Overview
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.
Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.
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.
Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.
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EUVD-2026-72200
GHSA-jp9f-f36c-fh7v
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
VulDB
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