CVE-2007-0522 in MOTORAZR
Summary
by MITRE
The Motorola MOTORAZR V3 phone allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (continual modal dialogs and UI unavailability) by repeatedly trying to OBEX push a file over Bluetooth, as demonstrated by ussp-push.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0522 represents a significant denial of service weakness in the Motorola MOTORAZR V3 mobile device, specifically within its Bluetooth implementation. This flaw exploits the phone's handling of OBEX (Open Mobile Alliance Binary Exchange) push operations, which are commonly used for file transfers between mobile devices over Bluetooth connections. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker repeatedly attempts to push files through the OBEX protocol, causing the device's user interface to become unresponsive due to continuous modal dialog displays that prevent normal operation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the phone's Bluetooth stack. When the device receives multiple consecutive OBEX push requests, it fails to properly manage the connection states and dialog presentations, leading to a cascading effect where each new file transfer attempt triggers a new modal dialog without properly closing previous ones. This creates a resource exhaustion scenario where the device's UI framework becomes overwhelmed with pending dialog operations, effectively rendering the phone unusable for normal operations while the attacker maintains control over the service disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it does not require any authentication or specialized equipment beyond standard Bluetooth capabilities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability transforms a mobile device into a potential tool for service disruption attacks, where an attacker can remotely render a target phone completely unusable without requiring physical access or complex exploitation techniques. The continuous modal dialogs prevent users from accessing basic phone functions such as making calls, sending messages, or using applications, effectively creating a denial of service condition that can persist until the device is manually restarted or power-cycled. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages standard Bluetooth protocols that are commonly enabled and used by mobile devices, making it difficult to prevent without disabling core Bluetooth functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which describes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and specifically relates to the improper handling of resource allocation in mobile device operating systems. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Toggle Bluetooth," where adversaries exploit wireless communication protocols to disrupt device functionality. The attack demonstrates how seemingly benign protocols can be weaponized for malicious purposes when proper input validation and state management are absent from mobile device implementations. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of robust error handling and resource management in embedded mobile systems, where user interface stability directly impacts device usability and security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and connection state management within the Bluetooth stack. Device manufacturers should ensure that OBEX push operations properly handle multiple concurrent requests by implementing connection queuing or limiting the number of simultaneous dialog presentations. The system should also include automatic timeout mechanisms to prevent indefinite dialog persistence and implement proper resource cleanup procedures after each OBEX operation. Network administrators and security teams should consider disabling unnecessary Bluetooth services when they are not actively required, and implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous Bluetooth traffic patterns. Additionally, firmware updates should be deployed promptly to address the underlying implementation flaws in the Bluetooth protocol handling, ensuring that the device properly manages resource allocation and prevents the cascading dialog behavior that leads to the denial of service condition.