CVE-2018-16265 in Tizen
Summary
by MITRE
The bt/bt_core system service in Tizen allows an unprivileged process to create a system user interface and control the Bluetooth pairing process, due to improper D-Bus security policy configurations. This affects Tizen before 5.0 M1, and Tizen-based firmwares including Samsung Galaxy Gear series before build RE2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16265 represents a critical security flaw within the Tizen operating system's Bluetooth subsystem that fundamentally undermines the integrity of the device's pairing mechanisms. This issue resides in the bt/bt_core system service which governs Bluetooth operations across Tizen devices, particularly affecting Samsung Galaxy Gear series wearable devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate D-Bus security policy configurations that permit unprivileged processes to manipulate the system user interface and assume control over Bluetooth pairing procedures. This misconfiguration creates an exploitable pathway where malicious applications or processes can bypass normal authorization requirements and gain unauthorized access to core Bluetooth functionalities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms within software systems. The flaw specifically manifests through improper D-Bus security policy configurations that should normally restrict access to Bluetooth pairing controls to privileged system components only. However, the flawed policy allows any unprivileged process to establish system user interfaces and manipulate the pairing workflow, effectively enabling unauthorized Bluetooth device discovery, connection, and pairing operations. This represents a severe breakdown in the principle of least privilege that governs secure system design practices.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for Tizen-based devices, particularly wearable technology where Bluetooth connectivity is essential for device functionality. Attackers could exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized Bluetooth pairing with malicious devices, potentially leading to data interception, device compromise, or man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability affects Tizen versions prior to 5.0 M1 and specifically impacts Samsung Galaxy Gear series devices before build RE2, representing a substantial attack surface for devices that rely heavily on Bluetooth for connectivity. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access as the ability to control pairing processes enables attackers to establish persistent connections with malicious devices, potentially leading to complete device compromise.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1068, which covers the exploitation of legitimate credentials for privilege escalation, and T1071, which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Organizations and device manufacturers must implement immediate mitigations including updating to Tizen 5.0 M1 or later versions where the D-Bus security policies have been properly configured. Additionally, system administrators should verify that D-Bus security policies are correctly enforced and that only authorized system components can access Bluetooth pairing controls. The remediation efforts should focus on strengthening the D-Bus policy configurations to ensure that Bluetooth pairing operations are restricted to privileged system services only, preventing unauthorized processes from creating system user interfaces or controlling pairing workflows. This vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation in embedded systems where device security directly impacts user privacy and data protection.