CVE-2008-4295 in Windows Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 on HTC Wiza 200 and HTC MDA 8125 devices does not properly handle the first attempt to establish a Bluetooth connection to a peer with a long name, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reboot) by configuring a Bluetooth device with a long hci name and (1) connecting directly to the Windows Mobile system or (2) waiting for the Windows Mobile system to scan for nearby devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system running on specific HTC devices including the HTC Wiza 200 and HTC MDA 8125 models. The flaw manifests during the initial Bluetooth connection establishment process when a peer device presents a Bluetooth device name exceeding standard length parameters. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow condition within the Bluetooth stack implementation where the system fails to properly validate or truncate device name strings before processing them. This issue stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms within the Windows Mobile Bluetooth subsystem that handles device name registration and connection management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of Bluetooth device naming conventions where an attacker configures a remote Bluetooth device with an excessively long HCI (Host Controller Interface) name. When the vulnerable Windows Mobile device attempts to establish a connection either through direct pairing or passive scanning for available devices, the system's Bluetooth stack encounters a buffer overflow condition during name processing. The overflow causes the operating system to crash and subsequently reboot the device, resulting in a denial of service condition that renders the mobile device temporarily unusable until manual restart occurs.
From an operational perspective this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of affected Windows Mobile devices in environments where Bluetooth connectivity is frequently utilized. The attack vector allows for remote exploitation without requiring physical access to the target device, making it particularly concerning for mobile professionals who rely on their devices for business operations. The vulnerability impacts both active connection scenarios and passive scanning modes, expanding the attack surface and making it more difficult for users to avoid the condition. The device reboot effect creates a persistent disruption that can occur at any time during normal device operation, potentially leading to data loss or missed communications.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Microsoft addressed this issue through security updates that improved input validation for Bluetooth device names and implemented proper buffer size checking within the Bluetooth connection handling routines. Organizations should ensure that all Windows Mobile devices are updated with the latest security patches and consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. Device administrators should also monitor for suspicious Bluetooth device activity and maintain regular backup procedures to minimize disruption from unexpected reboots. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in mobile operating system components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of wireless communication protocols in mobile platforms.