CVE-2006-6895 in T60
Summary
by MITRE
The Bluetooth stack in the Sony Ericsson T60 does not properly implement "Limited discoverable" mode, which allows remote attackers to obtain unauthorized inquiry responses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6895 affects the Bluetooth stack implementation in Sony Ericsson T60 mobile devices, representing a significant security flaw in wireless communication protocols. This issue stems from improper handling of the "Limited discoverable" mode functionality within the Bluetooth stack, which is designed to temporarily make a device visible to other Bluetooth devices for pairing purposes while maintaining restricted visibility to prevent unauthorized discovery. The flaw creates a scenario where remote attackers can exploit the device's Bluetooth implementation to gain unauthorized inquiry responses, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries of the discoverable mode.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the Bluetooth stack's failure to properly enforce the limitations imposed by the "Limited discoverable" mode. When a device operates in this mode, it should only respond to inquiry requests from specific devices that have previously paired or been authorized, yet the Sony Ericsson T60 fails to implement these restrictions correctly. This allows attackers positioned within Bluetooth range to send inquiry requests that should be filtered out, receiving responses that reveal the device's presence and potentially its identity or operational status. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level, specifically affecting the Bluetooth core specification's device discovery mechanisms and demonstrates a clear failure in proper access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for various attack vectors that could compromise device security and user privacy. An attacker within Bluetooth range could enumerate devices in the vicinity, potentially identifying Sony Ericsson T60 devices and gathering information about their operational status, which could then be used for more sophisticated attacks such as man-in-the-middle operations or social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security principle of least privilege in wireless communications, allowing unauthorized discovery of devices that should remain hidden from casual observers. This issue aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software implementations, and represents a failure in the Bluetooth stack's security model implementation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate device-level fixes and broader security awareness measures. Device manufacturers should implement proper firmware updates that correct the Bluetooth stack's handling of discoverable modes, ensuring that inquiry responses are properly filtered based on device pairing status and authorization levels. Network administrators and users should disable Bluetooth functionality when not actively needed and configure devices to operate in non-discoverable modes whenever possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper protocol implementation and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of wireless communication stacks. Organizations should consider implementing Bluetooth security policies that restrict discoverable modes to only necessary scenarios and maintain regular security assessments of wireless device implementations. This case study reinforces ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing attacks through wireless communications, as the vulnerability enables attackers to more easily identify and target specific devices within proximity ranges.