CVE-2022-20088

Local privilege escalation via reference-count error

Published May 3, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper exceptional-condition handling in the MediaTek AEE driver on Android 11.0 and 12.0 allows local users to escalate privileges. An AEE driver error path adjusts a reference count incorrectly when handling a failure, while the affected function and triggering input remain undisclosed. Exploitation requires existing System execution privileges and no user interaction; the reported consequence is limited to higher local privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper exceptional-condition handling in the MediaTek AEE driver on Android 11.0 and 12.0 allows local users to escalate privileges. An AEE driver error path adjusts a reference count incorrectly when handling a failure, while the affected function and triggering input remain undisclosed. Exploitation requires existing System execution privileges and no user interaction; the reported consequence is limited to higher local privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20088
Published
May 3, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-755, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

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
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
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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