Privilege escalation in MediaTek modem due to missing permission check
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The Modem component on MediaTek chipsets, including MT2716, MT2735, MT2737, MT6739, MT6761 and other models, is affected. A missing permission check (CWE-280) lets a local attacker escalate privileges. The attacker must already hold System privilege, and no user interaction is needed.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-02
Description from the CNA
In Modem, there is a possible escalation of privilege due to a missing permission 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: MOLY01790985; Issue ID: MSV-8148.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MediaTek | MediaTek chipset | MT2716; MT2735; MT2737; MT6739; MT6761; MT6762; MT6763; MT6765; MT6767; MT6768; MT6769; MT6771; MT6779; MT6781; MT6783; MT6785; MT6789; MT6813; MT6815; MT6833; MT6835; MT6853; MT6855; MT6858; MT6873; MT6875; MT6877; MT6878; MT6879; MT6880; MT6881; MT6883; MT6885; MT6886; MT6889; MT6890; MT6891; MT6893; MT6895; MT6896; MT6897; MT6899; MT6980; MT6982; MT6983; MT6985; MT6986; MT6988; MT6989; MT6990; MT6991; MT6993; MT8668; MT8676; MT8678; MT8755; MT8765; MT8766; MT8766R; MT8768; MT8771; MT8775; MT8781; MT8786; MT8788E; MT8791; MT8791T; MT8792; MT8793; MT8796; MT8797; MT8798; MT8863; MT8873; MT8875; MT8883; MT8893 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- MediaTek chipset VendorMediaTek Affected MT2716; MT2735; MT2737; MT6739; MT6761; MT6762; MT6763; MT6765; MT6767; MT6768; MT6769; MT6771; MT6779; MT6781; MT6783; MT6785; MT6789; MT6813; MT6815; MT6833; MT6835; MT6853; MT6855; MT6858; MT6873; MT6875; MT6877; MT6878; MT6879; MT6880; MT6881; MT6883; MT6885; MT6886; MT6889; MT6890; MT6891; MT6893; MT6895; MT6896; MT6897; MT6899; MT6980; MT6982; MT6983; MT6985; MT6986; MT6988; MT6989; MT6990; MT6991; MT6993; MT8668; MT8676; MT8678; MT8755; MT8765; MT8766; MT8766R; MT8768; MT8771; MT8775; MT8781; MT8786; MT8788E; MT8791; MT8791T; MT8792; MT8793; MT8796; MT8797; MT8798; MT8863; MT8873; MT8875; MT8883; MT8893 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for MediaTek chipset.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-02
Timeline
- 2026-11-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-20599
- 2026-11-02 Alias added: GHSA-236q-w8hv-6fmv
- 2026-11-02 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
- 2026-11-02 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-11-03 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
More MediaTek vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-00067 Out-of-bounds write in Android KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2024-13053 Improper input validation in MediaTek MT6890, MT7915, MT7916, MT7981, MT7986 CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-14725 Integer overflow in MediaTek MT6781, MT6789, MT6835, MT6855, MT6878, MT6879, MT6886… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2024-13114 Memory corruption in MediaTek MT2735, MT2737, MT6833, MT6835, MT6835T, MT6853, MT6855… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-14283 Command injection in MediaTek EN7528, EN7580 CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-11684 Command injection in MediaTek EN7528, EN7580 CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-20599 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-20599 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-236q-w8hv-6fmv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences