CVE-2018-3669 in Centrino Wireless N
Summary
by MITRE
A STOP error (BSoD) in the ibtfltcoex.sys driver for Intel Centrino Wireless N and Intel Centrino Advanced N adapters may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially send a malformed L2CAP Connection Request is sent to the Intel Bluetooth device via the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3669 represents a critical kernel-mode flaw in the Intel Bluetooth driver component known as ibtfltcoex.sys which affects Intel Centrino Wireless N and Intel Centrino Advanced N adapter models. This issue manifests as a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) condition that can be triggered through network-based exploitation, creating a remote code execution vector that could potentially allow an unauthenticated attacker to disrupt system operations. The flaw specifically involves the handling of malformed L2CAP (Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol) Connection Request packets, which are fundamental components of the Bluetooth protocol stack used for establishing connections between wireless devices.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the kernel-mode driver component that processes Bluetooth protocol communications. When a malformed L2CAP Connection Request packet is transmitted to an affected Intel Bluetooth device over the network, the ibtfltcoex.sys driver fails to properly validate the packet structure and content before processing. This lack of proper bounds checking and parameter validation creates a memory corruption condition that ultimately results in a system crash. The vulnerability specifically relates to improper handling of connection request parameters that exceed expected boundaries or contain unexpected data structures, leading to the kernel-level memory management failure that terminates the operating system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Intel Centrino wireless adapters, particularly in environments where wireless connectivity is essential for business operations. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can potentially trigger system crashes without requiring local access or authentication credentials, making this a particularly concerning vulnerability for enterprise networks. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as repeated exploitation could lead to denial of service conditions that affect productivity and business continuity. Organizations with mobile workforces or remote employees who depend on wireless connectivity may face operational challenges when systems become unavailable due to this vulnerability.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" categories, which classify it as a memory corruption issue within kernel-mode code. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007: "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1489: "Service Stop" within the Execution and Impact domains, as it enables the potential for system disruption through kernel-level manipulation. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows exploitation over network connections, potentially enabling attackers to target systems from remote locations without requiring physical access. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also prioritizing patch management to address the underlying driver vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Intel's security patches and driver updates that address the specific memory handling issues in the ibtfltcoex.sys component. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous Bluetooth protocol traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary Bluetooth functionality on systems that do not require wireless connectivity, implementing network access controls to limit Bluetooth protocol traffic, and establishing incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Intel Centrino adapters and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure and business criticality. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date driver software and implementing comprehensive security monitoring to detect and respond to kernel-level exploitation attempts that could compromise system integrity and availability.