CVE-2022-20034

Physical privilege escalation via improper certificate validation

Published Feb 9, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper authentication in MediaTek Preloader XFLASH on Android 11.0 allows physically proximate attackers to gain elevated privileges. MediaTek identifies improper certificate validation in the XFLASH authentication path but does not disclose the failed validation step or certificate property. Physical device access is required; no prior execution privilege or user interaction is needed, and successful exploitation raises local privileges.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authentication in MediaTek Preloader XFLASH on Android 11.0 allows physically proximate attackers to gain elevated privileges. MediaTek identifies improper certificate validation in the XFLASH authentication path but does not disclose the failed validation step or certificate property. Physical device access is required; no prior execution privilege or user interaction is needed, and successful exploitation raises local privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20034
Published
Feb 9, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287, CWE-295, T1404
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 9, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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