CVE-2008-2374 in Bluez Utils
Summary
by MITRE
src/sdp.c in bluez-libs 3.30 in BlueZ, and other bluez-libs before 3.34 and bluez-utils before 3.34 versions, does not validate string length fields in SDP packets, which allows remote SDP servers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted length field that triggers excessive memory allocation or a buffer over-read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2374 resides within the Service Discovery Protocol implementation of BlueZ libraries version 3.30 and earlier. This issue affects the core Bluetooth stack components including bluez-libs and bluez-utils across multiple versions prior to 3.34. The fundamental flaw lies in the insufficient validation of string length fields within SDP packets, creating a critical security gap that remote attackers can exploit to disrupt Bluetooth services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the sdp.c source file of the BlueZ library. When processing Service Discovery Protocol packets, the system fails to properly verify the length fields associated with string data structures. This validation failure allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted SDP packets containing manipulated length values that exceed normal operational parameters. The vulnerability manifests when the system attempts to allocate memory or read buffer contents based on these crafted length fields, leading to unpredictable system behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially encompass more severe consequences including system instability and resource exhaustion. When a remote SDP server sends packets with excessive length values, the vulnerable system may attempt to allocate memory that exceeds available resources or perform buffer reads beyond allocated boundaries. This can result in application crashes, system hangs, or in some cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation details and system configuration. The vulnerability affects any system running affected BlueZ versions that process SDP packets from remote sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2374 should prioritize immediate patching of affected BlueZ components to version 3.34 or later where the validation issues have been addressed. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to untrusted Bluetooth networks. Monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous SDP packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and Validation of Length Fields, and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that could map to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for potential exploitation pathways. Organizations should also consider implementing Bluetooth device whitelisting and disabling unnecessary Bluetooth services to reduce attack surface exposure.