CVE-2026-20572 in MT6858
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In adsp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. 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: ALPS11431442; Issue ID: MSV-9924.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified under issue identifier MSV-9924 and addressed by patch ALPS11431442 resides within the Audio DSP, commonly referred to as adsp, subsystem of the operating system kernel. This component is responsible for handling audio processing tasks offloaded from the main application processor, often involving complex signal processing algorithms that require precise memory management. The core technical flaw in this implementation stems from an integer overflow condition during arithmetic operations related buffer size calculations or index manipulations within the adsp driver code. When specific inputs trigger these miscalculations, the resulting value wraps around to a small positive number instead of failing appropriately, leading the system to allocate insufficient memory or write data beyond the boundaries of the allocated buffer. This classic integer overflow scenario creates an out-of-bounds write condition where arbitrary kernel memory can be overwritten with attacker-controlled data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential for local privilege escalation. Although exploitation requires the adversary to already possess System privileges, which typically indicates a high level of access within the operating system hierarchy, the ability to perform an out-of-bounds write in kernel space allows for further compromise of system integrity and stability. By overwriting critical kernel data structures such as function pointers or security tokens, an attacker can execute arbitrary code with even higher privilege levels or bypass existing security controls that rely on kernel-level enforcement mechanisms. This effectively undermines the isolation boundaries between user-space applications and core operating system functions, potentially leading to complete control of the device's firmware and hardware resources managed by the audio subsystem.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-190, which defines integer overflow or wraparound errors that can lead to subsequent memory corruption issues. The specific manifestation as an out-of-bounds write maps directly to CWE-787, indicating access outside of the intended boundary of a buffer. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this vulnerability facilitates techniques associated with ATT&CK ID T1068, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation. Furthermore, because it involves modifying kernel memory structures to alter execution flow or permissions, it also relates to ATT&CK technique T1055 regarding process injection and modification of executable memory within the operating system environment.
Mitigation strategies primarily rely on the deployment of the provided patch ALPS11431442, which corrects the arithmetic logic to prevent integer overflow conditions before they result in invalid memory accesses. System administrators should ensure that all devices running affected versions of the adsp driver are updated immediately to close this attack vector. Additionally, implementing strict input validation and bounds checking within custom audio processing modules can serve as a defense-in-depth measure against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also monitor for anomalous kernel behavior or unexpected privilege changes in environments where local system access might be compromised, as these could indicate attempted exploitation of the out-of-bounds write capability described herein.