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Researchers disclosed three vulnerabilities in Bluetooth audio devices built on Airoha systems-on-chip that can allow an attacker within radio range to gain unauthorized access to device memory and communications. The flaws, tracked as CVE-2025-20700, CVE-2025-20701, and CVE-2025-20702, stem from missing authentication in GATT and Bluetooth BR/EDR components and weak permission controls in a proprietary protocol, affecting headphones and earbuds sold by brands including Sony, Bose, Jabra, JBL, Marshall, Beyerdynamic, and Teufel.
ERNW researchers said the bugs can be chained to hijack the Bluetooth link between a phone and an audio device, issue commands to the paired phone through the Hands-Free Profile, eavesdrop on conversations, and potentially overwrite firmware for remote code execution on the accessory. The attack requires proximity because exploitation is limited by Bluetooth range, but defenders were urged to apply vendor firmware updates and investigate or restart devices showing abnormal Bluetooth behavior.
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CSIRT.SK published a warning about the Airoha Bluetooth vulnerabilities and advised users to update device firmware and restart devices if Bluetooth connectivity behaves abnormally. The notice also emphasized that practical exploitation is limited by Bluetooth range, roughly 10 meters under ideal conditions.
The published advisory explained that chaining the three vulnerabilities could let an attacker within Bluetooth range hijack the connection between a phone and an audio device, send commands via the Hands-Free Profile, eavesdrop on conversations, and potentially overwrite firmware for remote code execution. Affected products were reported across brands including Sony, Bose, Jabra, JBL, Marshall, Beyerdynamic, and Teufel.
Researchers from the German company ERNW identified three flaws in Airoha systems-on-chip used in Bluetooth headphones and earbuds: CVE-2025-20700, CVE-2025-20701, and CVE-2025-20702. The issues include missing authentication in GATT and Bluetooth BR/EDR and insufficient permission restrictions in a proprietary protocol.
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Security researchers have identified and disclosed several critical vulnerabilities in Bluetooth headphones and earbuds powered by Airoha Bluetooth System-on-Chips (SoCs), which are widely used by major brands such as Sony, Bose, JBL, Marshall, and Jabra. The vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2025-20700, CVE-2025-20701, and CVE-2025-20702, allow attackers within Bluetooth range to eavesdrop on conversations, steal sensitive data, and potentially hijack connected smartphones. The most severe flaw, related to the RACE (Remote Access Control Engine) protocol, enables remote code execution and arbitrary memory access due to missing authentication mechanisms in both Bluetooth Low Energy and Classic modes. Despite initial disclosure in June 2025 and the availability of patches, many affected devices remain unpatched, increasing the risk of exploitation. The RACE protocol, originally designed for factory debugging and firmware updates, is exposed over multiple interfaces, including Bluetooth and USB HID, providing attackers with powerful capabilities if exploited. Researchers have released a white paper and the RACE Toolkit to help users and security professionals assess device vulnerability. The ongoing exposure of these flaws highlights the importance of timely patching and the risks associated with insecure default configurations in widely deployed consumer electronics. Users of affected headphones and earbuds are urged to check for firmware updates and apply patches as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of compromise.
Jun 29, 2026
Apple has released **Beats Firmware Update `1B211`** to fix a high-severity Bluetooth vulnerability in **Beats Studio Buds** that could let an attacker within wireless range listen through the earbuds’ microphone under limited conditions. The flaw, tracked as **`CVE-2025-20701`**, affected devices while they were **unpaired and actively seeking a pairing request**, allowing pre-pairing eavesdropping. Apple said the issue originated in **open source code** and noted that Apple software was among the affected projects. The bug was identified in **Airoha** system-on-chip code by researchers **Dennis Heinze** and **Frieder Steinmetz** of **ERNW GmbH**, who linked it to missing authentication in the Bluetooth **BR/EDR** radio. ERNW said the flaw could be chained with **`CVE-2025-20700`** and **`CVE-2025-20702`** to enable broader attacks against vulnerable headphones, including issuing phone commands, extracting link keys, accessing call history and contacts, and placing calls, though such attacks require close proximity and substantial technical skill. The update is delivered automatically when the earbuds are paired with an **iPhone, iPad, or Mac**, placed on a charger, and kept within Bluetooth range.
Jun 29, 2026
Researchers at KU Leuven disclosed **WhisperPair**, a set of Bluetooth attacks against flawed implementations of Google’s Fast Pair protocol in headphones, earbuds, and speakers from multiple vendors, including **Sony, Anker, Nothing**, and others. The vulnerabilities can allow an attacker within Bluetooth range to silently pair with a target device, play audio, intercept calls, and activate built-in microphones for eavesdropping. Reporting on the disclosure said the issue affects audio accessories that rely on Fast Pair and stems from vendor implementation weaknesses rather than confirmed abuse in the wild. In the most serious cases, affecting five Sony models and **Google Pixel Buds Pro 2**, researchers said an attacker could bind a device to their own Google account and misuse Google’s **Find Hub** network to track a victim’s location if the accessory had not already been linked to an Android device and Google account. Google said it coordinated with the researchers, issued remediation guidance to accessory makers in September 2025, and tightened certification requirements, while vendors reported patches released, under testing, or planned through OTA firmware updates. Researchers also said they quickly bypassed an added Find Hub mitigation, though Google said that bypass depended on outdated firmware and remains under investigation.
Jun 29, 2026