CVE-2011-1265 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Bluetooth Stack 2.1 in Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 and SP2 and Windows 7 Gold and SP1 does not prevent access to objects in memory that (1) were not properly initialized or (2) have been deleted, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted Bluetooth packets, aka "Bluetooth Stack Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2025
The Bluetooth Stack vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1265 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Bluetooth protocol implementation of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability affects Windows Vista SP1 and SP2, as well as Windows 7 Gold and SP1 versions, exposing systems to remote code execution attacks through specially crafted Bluetooth packets. The flaw stems from improper memory management practices within the Bluetooth stack component, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit uninitialized or deallocated memory regions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which describes null pointer dereference conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. The vulnerability occurs when the Bluetooth stack processes maliciously constructed packets that trigger memory access to objects that have either not been properly initialized or have already been freed from memory. This memory management failure creates a condition where attackers can manipulate the execution flow of the Bluetooth service by exploiting the improper handling of memory objects, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Bluetooth service process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Bluetooth-enabled devices are prevalent. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in corporate networks where Bluetooth devices are commonly used for wireless peripherals, file transfers, and device pairing. The attack vector leverages the inherent trust placed in Bluetooth communications, allowing adversaries to execute malicious code on target systems without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges beyond what is normally associated with Bluetooth services.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across multiple Windows versions, making it a widespread concern for organizations that have not implemented proper security updates. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1106 for execution through Windows management instrumentation, as attackers could leverage the executed code to establish persistence or escalate privileges within the compromised system. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment and network segmentation to limit the exposure of Bluetooth-enabled systems, particularly in environments where wireless device management is critical. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper memory management practices and highlights the need for robust input validation in network protocol implementations, especially for services that handle untrusted network data from remote sources.