Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain initial code execution on device
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DeliveryEscalate to System privilege via separate vulnerability
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ExploitCraft malformed audio HAL input
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ExecutionTrigger path-traversal read in Audio HAL
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ImpactExfiltrate sensitive out-of-bounds data
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path traversal prevention
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires the attacker to already possess System privilege on the target Android device - this is a high-privilege OS tier, above standard app sandboxes and equivalent to core system processes. The vulnerability is in the Audio HAL, which is always present and active on affected MediaTek-based Android devices, so no special optional feature or non-default configuration is needed once System privilege is obtained. Exploitation is limited to local access (AV:L); remote attackers cannot reach this component directly. The primary limiting factor is the PR:H prerequisite: an attacker must chain this with a separate privilege-escalation vulnerability to first achieve System-level execution before this flaw becomes exploitable. |
| Impact | The vendor-assigned CVSS 3.1 vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N is well-calibrated to the actual risk. Attack vector is local and the prerequisite is System privilege, meaning an adversary must have already achieved deep OS compromise before this flaw can be used - severely constraining the threat model. The High confidentiality impact (C:H) is notable: data exposed from the audio subsystem could include audio buffers, DSP state, or configuration data that an attacker could leverage for further reconnaissance. SSVC rates exploitation 'none' and automatable 'no', consistent with the PR:H barrier. EPSS data is not provided, but the local-only, high-privilege requirement strongly implies a very low exploitation probability in the wild. There is no conflict between the CVSS vector and the description - both agree on local access and System privilege requirement. Real-world priority is low in isolation, but moderate if evaluated as part of a privilege-escalation chain where System privilege has already been obtained (e.g., via a preceding kernel or framework vulnerability). |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who has already gained System-level code execution on an Android device with an affected MediaTek chipset - for example, by exploiting a higher-severity framework or kernel vulnerability - crafts a malformed input to the Audio HAL that triggers a path traversal read. The HAL returns data from outside its intended memory or filesystem scope, which the attacker collects for use in further lateral movement or credential harvesting. No public proof-of-concept exploit is known, and the PR:H prerequisite makes opportunistic mass exploitation infeasible. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 07, 2026
Local information disclosure in MediaTek's Audio Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) exposes sensitive data to an attacker who has already escalated to System privilege on an affected Android device. Improper input validation (CWE-35 path-traversal class) in the audio subsystem allows a System-level process to read confidentiality-critical data it should not have access to, with no user interaction required. No public exploit code and no CISA KEV listing exist at time of analysis; SSVC assigns exploitation status 'none' and technical impact 'partial', positioning this as a post-compromise data-harvesting primitive rather than a primary attack vector.
RemediationAI
Apply the MediaTek September 2026 security patch corresponding to Patch ID ALPS11087533 (Issue ID MSV-8245), distributed by MediaTek to OEM partners and subsequently by OEMs as Android security update patches. End-users should install OEM-issued Android security updates dated September 2026 or later on affected devices. No workaround eliminates the underlying flaw - the audio subsystem cannot be disabled without breaking device functionality. Compensating controls are limited given the post-exploitation nature: organisations managing Android device fleets should prioritize preventing initial System privilege escalation via strong app vetting, SELinux enforcement, and prompt patching of higher-severity vulnerabilities in the Android framework. Full advisory: https://www.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/September-2026.
Affected VersionsENISA
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Technical ContextAI · show details
The Audio HAL is an Android system component that bridges the Android audio framework to vendor-specific hardware. On MediaTek SoCs it runs with System-level privilege and handles audio routing, codec configuration, and DSP communication. CWE-35 ('Path Traversal: .../.../' variant) indicates the root cause is insufficient validation of user-supplied paths or offsets within the HAL, potentially permitting an attacker to read memory regions or file paths outside the intended audio namespace. The vulnerability is confirmed across a broad family of MediaTek application processors spanning MT6xxx (e.g., MT6769, MT6853, MT6877, MT6895, MT6989, MT6991) and MT8xxx (e.g., MT8186, MT8195, MT8196, MT8390, MT8797) series - chipsets that underpin Android phones, tablets, Chromebooks, and smart-TV SoCs. Affected versions are not bounded to a single Android release; all Android versions shipping those chipsets without Patch ID ALPS11087533 are vulnerable.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
System privilege required (PR:H), local access only (AV:L), pure confidentiality read with no integrity or availability impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (MediaTek).
CVSS VectorVendor: MediaTek
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
In Audio HAL, there is a possible information disclosure due to improper input validation. This could lead to local information disclosure if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS11087533; Issue ID: MSV-8245.
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
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
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EUVD-2026-72206
GHSA-7fxg-vh63-qf9r
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
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VulDB
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