AB156x, AB157x, AB158x, AB159x series, AB1627: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
CVE-2025-20700 is a high-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in AB156x, AB157x, AB158x, AB159x series, AB1627 from Airoha Technology, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected AB156x, AB157x, AB158x, AB159x series, AB1627 versions: Airoha IoT SDK for BT audio v5.5.0 and earlier; Airoha AB1561x/AB1562x/AB1563x SDK v3.3.1 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 7.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 5.5% of all scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of AB156x, AB157x, AB158x, AB159x series, AB1627 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airoha Technology | AB156x, AB157x, AB158x, AB159x series, AB1627 | Airoha IoT SDK for BT audio v5.5.0 and earlier; Airoha AB1561x/AB1562x/AB1563x SDK v3.3.1 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
In the Airoha Bluetooth audio SDK, there is a possible permission bypass that allows access critical data of RACE protocol through Bluetooth LE GATT service. This could lead to remote escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
- When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.
More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in AB156x, AB157x, AB158x, AB159x series, AB1627
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.