CVE-2026-20544 in MT6739
Summary
by MITRE • 10/05/2026
In meta, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege, if an attacker has physical access to the device, with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS11049530 / ALPS11480843; Issue ID: MSV-7935.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2026
The vulnerability identified under issue identifier MSV-7935 and addressed by patch identifiers ALPS11049530 and ALNS11480843 represents a critical memory safety defect within the meta component of an embedded system, likely associated with MediaTek hardware platforms. The core technical flaw is characterized as an out-of-bounds write resulting from a missing bounds check during data processing operations. In software engineering terms, this indicates that the application or driver fails to validate whether the destination buffer has sufficient allocated memory space before writing incoming data. When input parameters exceed the predefined limits of the target array or buffer, the excess data is written into adjacent memory locations. This type of error falls squarely under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy, which describes a situation where a write operation targets a memory location outside the intended boundary, potentially overwriting critical system structures or control flow metadata.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for local privilege escalation. Because the flaw allows an attacker to overwrite arbitrary memory locations with controlled data, it can be leveraged to manipulate program execution flow. An attacker could potentially overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or security-critical variables such as authentication flags or capability structures. By carefully crafting the payload that triggers this out-of-bounds write, a malicious actor can achieve code execution in the context of a higher-privileged process or even kernel space, depending on which component is affected. This directly aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where vulnerabilities are used to gain elevated access rights that were not previously authorized. The severity is compounded by the fact that user interaction is not required for exploitation, removing a common barrier to attack initiation and allowing for automated or background execution if other conditions are met.
The threat model associated with this vulnerability specifies that physical access to the device is necessary for an attacker to exploit it. This constraint significantly narrows the scope of potential adversaries but does not diminish the risk profile. Physical access implies that the attacker has direct connectivity to debug ports, memory interfaces, or can interact with low-level system inputs without needing network exposure or remote code execution capabilities first. In many embedded and mobile device architectures, physical access allows for side-channel attacks, hardware debugging interface exploitation, or direct injection of malicious payloads via peripheral connections. The absence of additional execution privileges needed further simplifies the attack vector, meaning that even a user with minimal initial permissions can trigger this flaw if they can interact with the specific component containing the vulnerability. This makes it particularly dangerous in shared computing environments or devices where multiple users have physical access but varying levels of software trust.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements. The primary remediation is the application of the provided patches, ALPS11049530 and ALPS11480843, which presumably introduce rigorous boundary validation checks before any memory write operations occur in the affected meta component. Developers should ensure that all buffer sizes are explicitly checked against input lengths using standard library functions or custom validation routines that enforce strict limits. Beyond patching, implementing compiler-based security features such as stack canaries, Address Sanitizers during development, and Control Flow Integrity (CFI) at runtime can help detect or prevent exploitation attempts of similar nature in the future. Additionally, enforcing least privilege principles ensures that even if an out-of-bounds write occurs, the compromised memory region does not contain sensitive data or executable code critical to system integrity. Regular security audits focusing on C/C++ memory management practices are essential to identify and rectify such low-level defects before they reach production environments.