# CVE-2026-20448: Missing authorization in MediaTek chipset

> A missing permission check in geniezone allows local attackers with System privileges to escalate privileges on MediaTek Android devices.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 4 May 2026
- **Updated:** 5 May 2026
- **Also known as:** A-488938763, ASB-A-488938763, GHSA-wjg5-fw3x-2x8v, M-ALPS10708513

## What is CVE-2026-20448?

CVE-2026-20448 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in MediaTek, Inc. MediaTek chipset, published on 4 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In geniezone, 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: ALPS10708513; Issue ID: MSV-6281.

Weakness: CWE-280 (Improper Handling of Insufficient Permissions or Privileges)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20448?

It affects 22 products.


Products: Mediatek Mt6765 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6768 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6789 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6877 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6897 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6899 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6989 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6991 Firmware, Mediatek Mt6993 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8367 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8766 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8768 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8775 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8781 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8786 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8788e Firmware, Mediatek Mt8791t Firmware, Mediatek Mt8792 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8793 Firmware, Mediatek Mt8796 Firmware and 2 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-20448?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-20448 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-20448 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-20448 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in MediaTek, Inc. MediaTek chipset, published on 4 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: MediaTek, Inc. MediaTek chipset. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20448/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20448/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20448
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20448
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20448

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20448/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.