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MediaTek Power HAL EUVDEUVD-2026-72202

| CVE-2026-20509 MEDIUM
Stack-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-121)
2026-09-07 MediaTek GHSA-h5pf-f7wr-7vj7
6.7
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
    Obtain System-privileged process access
  2. Delivery
    Identify Power HAL IPC interface
  3. Exploit
    Craft oversized malformed input buffer
  4. Execution
    Trigger stack-based out-of-bounds write
  5. Persist
    Overwrite return address/function pointer
  6. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code at elevated privilege

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Stack buffer bounds checking
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution

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 control a process running with Android System-level privileges (equivalent to UID=1000 or a System-signed application context) - this is not a default-user or app-sandbox permission level. The vulnerable code path is in the Power HAL, which is invoked through Android's HAL interface layer; reaching it from a lower privilege context would require a separate, prior privilege escalation. No user interaction is needed once System privilege is obtained. The constraint that limits exploitation is the System privilege precondition: standard third-party applications, including those with root or shell access granted by the user, cannot directly interact with the Power HAL without first having been granted System-level trust by the platform. Exploitation is further constrained to local (physical or software) access - no network vector exists.

Impact

CVSS 6.7 accurately reflects the constrained threat model: exploitation is local-only and requires the attacker to already control a process running at Android System privilege - a non-trivial precondition that substantially narrows the attack surface. SSVC rates automatable as no, consistent with this prerequisite chain. However, SSVC technical impact is rated total, meaning a successful exploit achieves full C:H/I:H/A:H - likely kernel or root-level code execution on the device. The real-world risk materialises in chained attack scenarios where an attacker first compromises a System-privileged process (e.g., via another vulnerability) and then uses this flaw for full device takeover. No CISA KEV listing and no public POC are noted, keeping immediate exploitation risk low. The breadth of affected chipsets (40 models across MediaTek's portfolio) means patch deployment across Android OEMs will be slow and uneven, extending the window of exposure for devices that do not receive timely OEM updates.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has already compromised a System-privileged Android process - for example, by exploiting a separate vulnerability in a System service or a pre-installed app - crafts an oversized input to the Power HAL interface, triggering the stack-based buffer overflow. Overwriting the stack frame allows control of the instruction pointer, enabling arbitrary code execution at an elevated privilege level (root or kernel). No public proof-of-concept is known, so this scenario currently requires bespoke exploit development as part of a multi-stage attack chain.

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 – Sep 07, 2026

Local privilege escalation in MediaTek's Power HAL component allows a process operating with System-level privileges to escalate further - potentially to root or kernel - via a stack-based out-of-bounds write caused by a missing bounds check. The vulnerability affects approximately 40 distinct MediaTek SoC models spanning multiple Android device generations. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and SSVC assessment indicates exploitation is currently none, though technical impact is rated total given full C/I/A compromise post-exploitation.

RemediationAI

The primary fix is MediaTek patch ALPS11165543, distributed to OEM partners through MediaTek's standard security bulletin process for September 2026 (https://www.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/September-2026). End users should apply OEM-distributed security updates for their devices at the earliest available opportunity, particularly for devices based on the 40 listed chipsets. Since OEM patch timelines vary significantly, organisations managing Android fleets should prioritise identifying affected chipsets within their device inventories and tracking OEM security patch levels. As a compensating control where patching is not yet available, restricting application sideloading and enforcing strict SELinux policy to prevent untrusted processes from reaching System privilege reduces the exploitability of this flaw; however, these controls rely on the absence of a secondary privilege escalation path and do not eliminate the underlying vulnerability. There is no known workaround that neutralises the bounds-check deficiency itself.

Affected VersionsENISA

MediaTek chipset MT6768
MediaTek chipset MT6991
MediaTek chipset MT6789
MediaTek chipset MT6761
MediaTek chipset MT6983
MediaTek chipset MT6739
MediaTek chipset MT8676
MediaTek chipset MT6886
MediaTek chipset MT6769
MediaTek chipset MT6897
MediaTek chipset MT8186
MediaTek chipset MT6878
MediaTek chipset MT6989
MediaTek chipset MT8171
MediaTek chipset MT6877
MediaTek chipset MT6765
MediaTek chipset MT6893
MediaTek chipset MT6781
MediaTek chipset MT6899
MediaTek chipset MT8793
MediaTek chipset MT6881
MediaTek chipset MT6853
MediaTek chipset MT2718
MediaTek chipset MT6993
MediaTek chipset MT8196
MediaTek chipset MT6889
MediaTek chipset MT8188
MediaTek chipset MT6858
MediaTek chipset MT6833
MediaTek chipset MT8189
MediaTek chipset MT8668
MediaTek chipset MT6879
MediaTek chipset MT6835
MediaTek chipset MT6895
MediaTek chipset MT6855
MediaTek chipset MT6883
MediaTek chipset MT8678
MediaTek chipset MT8696
MediaTek chipset MT6885
MediaTek chipset MT6985

Affects your stack

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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw resides in the Power HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) - the Android middleware layer responsible for managing device power states and energy-related system calls on MediaTek chipsets. CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) identifies the root cause: a write operation into a fixed-size stack buffer proceeds without validating the size of the incoming data, allowing an attacker to corrupt adjacent stack memory including return addresses or function pointers. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U confirms the attack is entirely local with no complexity beyond already holding System-level Android permissions. Affected CPE: cpe:2.3:a:mediatek,_inc.:mediatek_chipset:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*. MediaTek's patch identifier is ALPS11165543 (internal issue MSV-9011), published in the September 2026 MediaTek Product Security Bulletin.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (MediaTek) PRIMARY 6.7 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 6.7 MEDIUM

Local-only attack requiring System privilege; no complexity beyond precondition; full impact post-exploitation with no scope change.

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

Lifecycle Timeline

2
CVE Published
Sep 07, 2026 - 01:57 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)
CVE Published
Sep 07, 2026 - 01:57 cve.org
MEDIUM 6.7

DescriptionCVE.org

In Power HAL, 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: ALPS11165543; Issue ID: MSV-9011.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 96% exploitable
Prevalence
High
MediaTek SoCs power hundreds of millions of mid-range and budget Android devices 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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact· derived
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

34
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +34
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.

A stack-based buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located on the stack than it was allocated to hold.

Related Vulnerabilities in MediaTek Power HAL Privilege Escalation

View all 2
CVE-2026-20433 HIGH
8.8 Apr 07

Out-of-bounds write in MediaTek modem firmware enables remote privilege escalation when devices connect to attacker-cont

CVE-2026-20501 HIGH
8.4 Sep 07

Heap buffer overflow in the vdec (video decoder) kernel driver across 53+ MediaTek SoCs allows a local unprivileged atta

CVE-2026-20502 HIGH
8.4 Sep 07

Local privilege escalation in MediaTek's vdec (video decoder) kernel driver affects more than 53 distinct chipset varian

CVE-2026-20465 HIGH
8.1 Aug 03

Heap-based buffer overflow in the MediaTek WLAN AP driver enables an adjacent-network attacker to escalate privileges wi

CVE-2026-20432 HIGH
8.0 Apr 07

Out-of-bounds write in MediaTek modem chipset implementations allows remote privilege escalation when user equipment con

CVE-2026-20452 HIGH
8.0 Jun 01

Heap buffer overflow in the MediaTek WLAN access point driver allows adjacent-network attackers with low-privilege user

CVE-2026-20495 HIGH
7.8 Aug 03

Local privilege escalation in MediaTek's Bluetooth driver affects six Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo chipsets (MT7902, MT7920, MT

CVE-2026-20455 HIGH
7.8 Jun 01

Local privilege escalation in MediaTek GenieZone (trusted execution environment) allows an attacker who has already gain

CVE-2026-20483 HIGH
7.7 Aug 03

Privilege escalation in MediaTek's Android Telephony component enables any locally-installed application - regardless of

CVE-2026-20479 HIGH
7.5 Aug 03

Out-of-bounds read in MediaTek modem firmware across 19 chipsets enables remote denial of service when a User Equipment

CVE-2026-20458 HIGH
7.5 Jul 01

Remote privilege escalation in the baseband modem firmware of dozens of MediaTek chipsets allows an attacker operating a

CVE-2026-20510 MEDIUM
6.7 Sep 07

Privilege escalation via a double-free memory corruption bug in camera middleware affects 17 MediaTek chipset variants,

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