CVE-2025-20702 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in the Airoha Bluetooth audio SDK, specifically affecting the AB156x, AB157x, AB158x, AB159x series, and AB1627 chipsets. The root cause of this vulnerability is a missing authentication mechanism for a critical function within the RACE protocol implementation. The RACE protocol is used for communication and control within the Bluetooth audio SDK environment. Due to the lack of authentication, an attacker can remotely access this protocol without any prior privileges or user interaction, enabling unauthorized control over the affected device. This unauthorized access can lead to remote escalation of privileges, allowing the attacker to execute commands or manipulate the device’s behavior with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Airoha IoT SDK for Bluetooth audio (v5.5.0 and earlier) and the AB1561x/AB1562x/AB1563x SDK (v3.3.1 and earlier). The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the vulnerability’s high impact and ease of exploitation, as it requires no user interaction and no prior privileges. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability’s characteristics make it a significant risk for devices using these chipsets, especially in IoT and audio applications where Bluetooth connectivity is critical.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, particularly for those relying on Bluetooth audio devices and IoT products incorporating Airoha chipsets. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive audio streams, manipulation of device functions, or disruption of services, potentially compromising user privacy and operational integrity. Industries such as telecommunications, consumer electronics, automotive (infotainment systems), and smart home devices are at risk. The ability to escalate privileges remotely without user interaction increases the threat level, as attackers can stealthily compromise devices, leading to data breaches or service outages. This could also affect compliance with European data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) if personal data confidentiality is breached. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against critical infrastructure or enterprises using these Bluetooth-enabled devices, amplifying the operational and reputational damage.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize updating to the latest patched versions of the Airoha IoT SDK and AB156x series SDKs once available from the vendor. Until patches are released, organizations should implement network-level controls to restrict unauthorized Bluetooth communications, such as enforcing strict device pairing policies and monitoring Bluetooth traffic for anomalous RACE protocol activity. Employing endpoint security solutions capable of detecting unusual Bluetooth behavior can help identify exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers and integrators should review their Bluetooth SDK implementations to ensure proper authentication mechanisms are enforced for all critical functions. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of all Bluetooth-enabled devices in their environment to identify vulnerable units and isolate or replace them if necessary. Finally, raising user awareness about the risks of unauthorized Bluetooth connections and disabling Bluetooth when not in use can reduce exposure.