CVE-2007-0524 in Chocolate KG800
Summary
by MITRE
The LG Chocolate KG800 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 • 10/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0524 represents a significant denial of service weakness in the LG Chocolate KG800 mobile device, specifically within its Bluetooth implementation. This flaw resides in the device's handling of OBEX (Object Exchange) push operations, which are commonly used for transferring files between Bluetooth-enabled devices. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker repeatedly initiates OBEX push attempts over Bluetooth connections, causing the device to become unresponsive and trapped in a cycle of continuous modal dialogs that effectively render the user interface unusable.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the LG Chocolate KG800's Bluetooth stack implementation. When multiple consecutive OBEX push operations are initiated, the device fails to properly manage the state transitions and resource allocation required for each transaction. This results in a resource exhaustion condition where the device's user interface becomes overwhelmed with modal dialog prompts that cannot be dismissed, creating a persistent denial of service scenario. The vulnerability specifically leverages the ussp-push utility, which is designed for Bluetooth file transfer operations, to repeatedly trigger the problematic code path in the device's firmware.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to device usability and user productivity. The continuous modal dialogs prevent users from accessing any application or system functions, effectively locking them out of their device until a manual reboot occurs. This type of denial of service attack is particularly concerning because it can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the device, making it a viable vector for attackers to disrupt device functionality. The vulnerability affects the device's core user experience and can be exploited to create persistent disruptions in communication and device operation.
The weakness aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes uncontrolled resource consumption as a fundamental security issue. This classification reflects the device's failure to properly manage system resources during concurrent OBEX operations, leading to resource exhaustion that prevents normal device operation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1499.004, which covers "Uninstall/Remove Tool" and "Resource Exhaustion," as the attack effectively consumes system resources to prevent legitimate use of the device. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1566, which covers "Phishing with Social Engineering," as attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to create convincing denial of service scenarios that might be mistaken for legitimate device malfunctions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate and long-term approaches. Device manufacturers should implement proper input validation and rate limiting mechanisms to prevent the accumulation of pending OBEX operations that could overwhelm the system. The device firmware should include proper error handling that terminates problematic connections rather than allowing them to persist and consume system resources. Users can protect against exploitation by avoiding suspicious Bluetooth connections and being cautious about accepting file transfers from unknown sources. Additionally, implementing network-level controls that monitor and limit Bluetooth traffic patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust resource management in mobile device firmware, particularly for protocols that handle user-initiated file transfers and system interactions.