CVE-2022-20561

Local privilege escalation via audio use-after-free

Published Dec 16, 2022 · Updated Apr 18, 2025

Use-after-free in aud_hal_tunnel.c in the Android kernel allows local users to gain elevated privileges through audio processing. The Pixel Audio component dereferences memory after its lifetime ends in the audio HAL tunnel path, corrupting kernel memory. A low-privileged local user can reach the flaw without user interaction, and successful exploitation grants privileges beyond the initiating process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in aud_hal_tunnel.c in the Android kernel allows local users to gain elevated privileges through audio processing. The Pixel Audio component dereferences memory after its lifetime ends in the audio HAL tunnel path, corrupting kernel memory. A low-privileged local user can reach the flaw without user interaction, and successful exploitation grants privileges beyond the initiating process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20561
Published
Dec 16, 2022
Updated
Apr 18, 2025
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-416, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 18, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Android kernel

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android kernel

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
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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