CVE-2022-32594 is a medium-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting a broad range of MediaTek system-on-chip (SoC) models, specifically MT6762, MT6765, MT6768, MT6769, MT6779, MT6781, MT6785, MT6789, MT6833, MT6853, MT6853T, MT6855, MT6873, MT6875, MT6877, MT6879, MT6883, MT6885, MT6889, MT6891, MT6893, MT6895, MT8385, MT8765, MT8766, MT8768, MT8781, MT8786, MT8788, MT8789, MT8791, and MT8797. These chipsets are commonly integrated into Android devices running versions 10.0, 11.0, and 12.0. The vulnerability arises from an out-of-bounds write in the Widevine component due to an incorrect bounds check, classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). Exploitation of this flaw allows a local attacker with existing high privileges (PR:H) to escalate their privileges to system level, potentially gaining full control over the device. Notably, exploitation does not require user interaction (UI:N), but does require the attacker to already have some elevated privileges, limiting remote or unprivileged exploitation vectors. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7, reflecting medium severity with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component and does not extend beyond the security boundary. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided data, though MediaTek has assigned a patch ID (ALPS07446207).

For European organizations, the primary impact lies in the potential compromise of Android devices utilizing affected MediaTek chipsets. These devices are prevalent in consumer smartphones and some enterprise mobile devices, especially in cost-sensitive markets. An attacker who gains local high-level privileges—potentially through other vulnerabilities or malicious apps—could leverage this flaw to escalate to system-level control, enabling installation of persistent malware, data exfiltration, or disruption of device functionality. This could lead to breaches of sensitive corporate data accessed via mobile devices, unauthorized access to corporate networks through compromised endpoints, and potential lateral movement within enterprise environments. The impact is particularly critical for sectors relying heavily on mobile security such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. Additionally, the vulnerability could undermine trust in mobile device security, affecting supply chain integrity and mobile workforce productivity.

1. Immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches or firmware updates is essential once available. Organizations should monitor MediaTek and device OEM advisories closely. 2. Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce strict application whitelisting and privilege restrictions, minimizing the risk of attackers obtaining the prerequisite high privileges. 3. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on mobile endpoints to detect privilege escalation attempts or anomalous behavior. 4. Limit installation of apps from untrusted sources and enforce strict app vetting policies to reduce the risk of initial privilege acquisition. 5. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools tailored for mobile devices to identify exploitation attempts early. 6. Educate users on mobile security best practices, emphasizing the risks of rooting/jailbreaking devices which could exacerbate exploitation potential. 7. For critical environments, consider device segmentation or use of hardened devices with verified secure boot and trusted execution environments to reduce attack surface. 8. Collaborate with device vendors to ensure timely patch rollout and verify update integrity to prevent supply chain attacks.