CVE-2004-0775 in Bluetooth Connectivity Software
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in WIDCOMM Bluetooth Connectivity Software, as used in products such as BTStackServer 1.3.2.7 and 1.4.2.10, Windows XP and Windows 98 with MSI Bluetooth Dongles, and HP IPAQ 5450 running WinCE 3.0, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain service requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0775 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the WIDCOMM Bluetooth Connectivity Software ecosystem, specifically affecting legacy Windows operating systems and embedded devices. This issue manifests in the BTStackServer component version 1.3.2.7 and 1.4.2.10, which serves as the core Bluetooth stack implementation for various hardware platforms including MSI Bluetooth Dongles and HP IPAQ 5450 devices running Windows CE 3.0. The flaw exists within the service request handling mechanism of the Bluetooth stack, where insufficient input validation allows maliciously crafted service requests to overflow buffer boundaries and potentially overwrite critical memory regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the Bluetooth protocol implementation, specifically in how the software processes incoming service requests from remote Bluetooth devices. When a remote attacker crafts a malformed service request containing excessive data payload, the WIDCOMM stack fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution, as the overflow can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures in memory. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows platforms including Windows XP and Windows 98, indicating a widespread impact across the Windows Bluetooth ecosystem of that era.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-0775 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a significant security weakness in wireless communication infrastructure that was prevalent during the early 2000s when Bluetooth adoption was rapidly expanding. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, potentially establishing persistent backdoors or executing malicious payloads without requiring physical proximity to the target device. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers could compromise systems simply by broadcasting malicious Bluetooth service requests within range of vulnerable devices, making it particularly dangerous for mobile devices and laptops that maintain active Bluetooth connections. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, and represents a classic example of how embedded systems and wireless protocols can create attack surfaces that are difficult to secure in legacy environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of the WIDCOMM Bluetooth stack components, with vendors releasing updated versions of BTStackServer that included proper input validation and buffer size checking mechanisms. Organizations should have implemented network segmentation to isolate Bluetooth-enabled devices from critical infrastructure, while also considering the removal of Bluetooth functionality on systems where it was not essential. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in wireless protocol implementations and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on compromised systems. Given the age of this vulnerability, systems that still operate with legacy WIDCOMM implementations should be considered high-risk and require immediate remediation or complete removal of the affected software components.