diff --git a/camera/provider/2.4/vts/functional/VtsHalCameraProviderV2_4TargetTest.cpp b/camera/provider/2.4/vts/functional/VtsHalCameraProviderV2_4TargetTest.cpp
index 6866776..b0ae20e 100644
--- a/camera/provider/2.4/vts/functional/VtsHalCameraProviderV2_4TargetTest.cpp
+++ b/camera/provider/2.4/vts/functional/VtsHalCameraProviderV2_4TargetTest.cpp
@@ -7883,6 +7883,7 @@
             }
         }
 
+        camera_metadata_t* staticMetadata;
         camera_metadata_ro_entry physicalMultiResStreamConfigs;
         camera_metadata_ro_entry physicalStreamConfigs;
         camera_metadata_ro_entry physicalMaxResolutionStreamConfigs;
@@ -7901,8 +7902,9 @@
 
             ret = subDevice->getCameraCharacteristics([&](auto status, const auto& chars) {
                 ASSERT_EQ(Status::OK, status);
-                const camera_metadata_t* staticMetadata =
-                        reinterpret_cast<const camera_metadata_t*>(chars.data());
+                staticMetadata = clone_camera_metadata(
+                        reinterpret_cast<const camera_metadata_t*>(chars.data()));
+                ASSERT_NE(nullptr, staticMetadata);
                 rc = getSystemCameraKind(staticMetadata, &physSystemCameraKind);
                 ASSERT_EQ(rc, Status::OK);
                 // Make sure that the system camera kind of a non-hidden
@@ -7936,7 +7938,9 @@
                         verifyCameraCharacteristics(status, chars);
                         verifyMonochromeCharacteristics(chars, deviceVersion);
 
-                        auto staticMetadata = (const camera_metadata_t*)chars.data();
+                        staticMetadata = clone_camera_metadata(
+                                reinterpret_cast<const camera_metadata_t*>(chars.data()));
+                        ASSERT_NE(nullptr, staticMetadata);
                         retcode = find_camera_metadata_ro_entry(
                                 staticMetadata, ANDROID_CONTROL_ZOOM_RATIO_RANGE, &entry);
                         bool subCameraHasZoomRatioRange = (0 == retcode && entry.count == 2);
@@ -8064,6 +8068,7 @@
                 }
             }
         }
+        free_camera_metadata(staticMetadata);
     }
 
     // If a multi-resolution stream is supported, there must be at least one
diff --git a/camera/provider/aidl/vts/camera_aidl_test.cpp b/camera/provider/aidl/vts/camera_aidl_test.cpp
index 20f32bf..2c2f1b2 100644
--- a/camera/provider/aidl/vts/camera_aidl_test.cpp
+++ b/camera/provider/aidl/vts/camera_aidl_test.cpp
@@ -1181,6 +1181,7 @@
         camera_metadata_ro_entry physicalMultiResStreamConfigs;
         camera_metadata_ro_entry physicalStreamConfigs;
         camera_metadata_ro_entry physicalMaxResolutionStreamConfigs;
+        CameraMetadata physChars;
         bool isUltraHighRes = false;
         std::unordered_set<int32_t> subCameraPrivacyTestPatterns;
         if (isPublicId) {
@@ -1189,12 +1190,11 @@
             ASSERT_TRUE(ret.isOk());
             ASSERT_NE(subDevice, nullptr);
 
-            CameraMetadata subDeviceChars;
-            ret = subDevice->getCameraCharacteristics(&subDeviceChars);
+            ret = subDevice->getCameraCharacteristics(&physChars);
             ASSERT_TRUE(ret.isOk());
 
             const camera_metadata_t* staticMetadata =
-                    reinterpret_cast<const camera_metadata_t*>(subDeviceChars.metadata.data());
+                    reinterpret_cast<const camera_metadata_t*>(physChars.metadata.data());
             retStatus = getSystemCameraKind(staticMetadata, &physSystemCameraKind);
             ASSERT_EQ(retStatus, Status::OK);
 
@@ -1215,7 +1215,6 @@
             getPrivacyTestPatternModes(staticMetadata, &subCameraPrivacyTestPatterns);
         } else {
             // Check camera characteristics for hidden camera id
-            CameraMetadata physChars;
             ndk::ScopedAStatus ret =
                     device->getPhysicalCameraCharacteristics(physicalId, &physChars);
             ASSERT_TRUE(ret.isOk());