CVE-2026-20536: In aidl, there is a possible memory corruption due to use after free

Routine

MEDIUM 6.7MITIGATEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2026-20536 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.7) affecting mt6878 firmware, mt6881 firmware, mt6899 firmware. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

In aidl, there is a possible memory corruption 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: ALPS11242428; Issue ID: MSV-9038.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.7 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.1% (top 99%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-416
Published	2026-10-05
Last modified	2026-10-09

Publisher (CNA): MediaTek, Inc. · Vendor: mediatek

Last updated 2026-10-09 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-10-05 02:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-10-09 14:27 UTCUpdated Record last modified

mediatek mt6878 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mediatek mt6881 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mediatek mt6899 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mediatek mt6989 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mediatek mt6991 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mediatek mt6993 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-20536?

mt6878 firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; mt6881 firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; mt6899 firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-20536 being exploited?

CVE-2026-20536 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-20536 affect?

CVE-2026-20536 affects mt6878 firmware, mt6881 firmware, mt6899 firmware. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.7). In aidl, there is a possible memory corruption 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

How urgent is CVE-2026-20536?

Priority 24/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Related CVEs

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CVE-2026-20542 MEDIUM 6.7 MITIGATE MITIGATE In apusys, there is a possible memory corruption due to use after free
CVE-2026-20537 MEDIUM 6.7 MITIGATE MITIGATE In aidl, there is a possible memory corruption due to use after free
CVE-2026-20535 MEDIUM 6.7 MITIGATE MITIGATE In aidl, there is a possible escalation of privilege due to a missing permission check
CVE-2026-20525 MEDIUM 5.3 MITIGATE MITIGATE In Modem, there is a possible system crash due to improper input validation

References

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