CVE-2007-0523 in N70
Summary
by MITRE
The Nokia N70 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 • 04/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0523 represents a significant denial of service weakness in the Nokia N70 mobile device, specifically within its Bluetooth implementation. This flaw manifests when remote attackers exploit the OBEX (Object Exchange) protocol to repeatedly attempt file transfers over Bluetooth connections, leading to persistent modal dialogs that consume system resources and render the user interface completely unresponsive. The attack vector leverages the ussp-push utility, which is part of the Bluetooth stack on the affected device, to repeatedly initiate OBEX push operations that the phone cannot properly handle.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the Nokia N70's Bluetooth file transfer subsystem. When the device receives repeated OBEX push requests, it fails to properly terminate or queue these operations, resulting in an accumulation of modal dialog boxes that continuously appear on screen. This condition prevents users from accessing normal device functions and effectively renders the phone unusable for legitimate communication or data transfer activities. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling mechanisms and insufficient resource allocation strategies within the device's operating system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe disruption to device functionality that can be exploited by attackers without requiring physical access or sophisticated technical skills. The continued modal dialogs prevent users from performing basic phone operations, including making calls, sending messages, or accessing applications, effectively disabling the device's primary communication capabilities. The attack can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous as it allows malicious actors to compromise device availability from a distance, potentially affecting critical communication scenarios where the phone's reliability is essential.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Toggle Communication Channel," where adversaries manipulate device communication channels to disrupt service availability. The affected Nokia N70 represents a specific implementation of a broader class of Bluetooth protocol vulnerabilities that can be exploited to create persistent denial of service conditions. The issue highlights the importance of robust resource management and proper error handling in embedded systems, particularly those implementing wireless communication protocols where malformed requests could lead to complete system unresponsiveness. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual Bluetooth traffic patterns and consider firmware updates or device replacement to address this vulnerability.
The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business continuity in environments where mobile device reliability is critical. Users may experience complete loss of communication capabilities, forcing them to seek alternative communication methods or potentially leaving them isolated from essential services. This vulnerability underscores the necessity of comprehensive security testing for mobile device operating systems, particularly focusing on protocol implementations that handle external communication requests. Security practitioners should consider this issue when evaluating mobile device security postures and implementing protective measures against similar vulnerabilities in other Bluetooth-enabled devices.