CVE-2017-0781 in MICROS Handheld Terminal
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability in the Android system (bluetooth). Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0. Android ID: A-63146105.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0781 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Android Bluetooth stack that affects multiple versions of the Android operating system from version 4.4.4 through 8.0. This vulnerability resides in the Bluetooth subsystem and specifically targets the Bluetooth Service Daemon component that handles incoming Bluetooth connections and protocol processing. The flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target device without requiring any user interaction or physical access, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where Bluetooth is frequently enabled and used for device connectivity.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Bluetooth protocol handling code, specifically in how the system processes incoming Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) requests. When a malicious Bluetooth device connects to an affected Android device and sends specially crafted SDP packets, the system fails to properly validate the length and structure of the incoming data. This leads to a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations and ultimately execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Bluetooth service daemon. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-known weakness in software design that occurs when data is written beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it operates over the air without requiring any authentication or pairing, leveraging the inherent trust relationships that exist between Bluetooth devices.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0781 extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected Android devices. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows adversaries to install malicious applications, access sensitive user data, monitor communications, and potentially establish persistent backdoors on the compromised device. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Android versions, making it particularly dangerous as it impacts both older legacy devices and newer systems that may not have received timely security updates. The attack surface is extensive since Bluetooth is enabled by default on most Android devices and frequently used for various connectivity scenarios including wireless headphones, smartwatches, car systems, and IoT devices. Security researchers have mapped this vulnerability to the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of code through Bluetooth protocols, and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability in combination with social engineering campaigns to compromise devices in public spaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0781 focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term system hardening approaches. Organizations and users should prioritize applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which include fixes for the buffer overflow conditions in the Bluetooth stack. The recommended immediate action involves disabling Bluetooth when not actively in use and ensuring that automatic pairing features are disabled on devices that cannot be immediately patched. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be implemented to detect unusual Bluetooth activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing robust mobile device management policies that enforce timely security updates and maintain visibility into device Bluetooth configurations. Additionally, security professionals should consider deploying Bluetooth protocol monitoring tools that can detect and alert on malformed SDP packets that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security awareness training for users to recognize potential social engineering attacks that could leverage this vulnerability, as the attack requires no user interaction but could be combined with other techniques to increase success rates in targeted campaigns.