CVE-2017-13259 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In functionality implemented in sdp_discovery.cc, there are possible out of bounds reads due to missing bounds checks. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: Android. Versions: 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1. Android ID: A-68161546.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13259 resides within the Bluetooth SDP (Service Discovery Protocol) discovery functionality implemented in the Android operating system. This flaw is classified as a buffer overread condition that occurs in the sdp_discovery.cc source file, representing a critical security weakness that affects multiple Android versions including 5.1.1 through 8.1. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the Bluetooth service discovery process, specifically when processing incoming SDP packets from remote devices. This issue manifests as a lack of proper boundary verification during the parsing of service discovery protocol data structures, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit the system without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the absence of proper validation checks when processing Bluetooth SDP records, which are used to discover services available on Bluetooth devices. When an Android device receives malformed SDP packets containing oversized or improperly formatted data structures, the system attempts to read beyond allocated memory boundaries in the sdp_discovery.cc implementation. This out-of-bounds memory access can result in information disclosure, where sensitive data from adjacent memory locations may be inadvertently exposed to the attacker. The flaw operates at the protocol parsing layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal Bluetooth communication without requiring any user consent or interaction. The vulnerability affects the core Bluetooth stack functionality and represents a classic case of improper input validation leading to memory safety issues.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13259 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the Android Bluetooth subsystem. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information such as memory contents, potentially including cryptographic keys, session data, or other confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can trigger this vulnerability from outside the device's local network, making it particularly concerning for mobile devices that frequently connect to various Bluetooth services. This vulnerability affects all supported Android versions mentioned in the advisory, indicating it was present across a significant portion of the Android ecosystem and represents a widespread security weakness in the Bluetooth implementation. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any user awareness or consent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. Organizations and users should immediately install the latest security patches available through official Android update channels to address this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing Bluetooth network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, though this does not address the underlying vulnerability. The fix typically involves adding proper bounds checking and input validation to the SDP parsing functions in the Bluetooth stack, ensuring that all incoming data structures are properly validated before processing. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index, and represents a classic example of a memory safety issue that can be addressed through proper defensive programming practices. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a privilege escalation technique through protocol analysis, where an attacker exploits implementation weaknesses in network protocols to gain unauthorized access to system information.