CVE-2019-19193 in SIMPLELINK-CC2640R2-SDK
Summary
by MITRE
The Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral implementation on Texas Instruments SIMPLELINK-CC2640R2-SDK through 3.30.00.20 and BLE-STACK through 1.5.0 before Q4 2019 for CC2640R2 and CC2540/1 devices does not properly restrict the advertisement connection request packet on reception, allowing attackers in radio range to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19193 affects Texas Instruments SIMPLELINK-CC2640R2-SDK and BLE-STACK implementations across multiple device families including CC2640R2 and CC2540/1. This issue resides within the Bluetooth Low Energy peripheral implementation where insufficient validation occurs during the reception of advertisement connection request packets. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited by adversaries within radio range to disrupt normal device operations through carefully crafted malicious packets.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate input validation and packet processing within the Bluetooth stack's peripheral role functionality. When the affected devices receive advertisement connection requests, they fail to properly restrict or validate the incoming packet structure and content before processing. This improper handling allows specially crafted packets to trigger unexpected behavior in the device's Bluetooth stack, ultimately leading to system crashes or complete denial of service conditions. The vulnerability specifically targets the connection request packet processing phase where the device transitions from advertisement mode to connection establishment, creating a window of opportunity for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the fundamental reliability of Bluetooth Low Energy implementations in embedded systems. Devices utilizing these affected TI SDK versions become susceptible to remote denial of service attacks that can occur without any authentication requirements, making them particularly dangerous in environments where continuous operation is critical. The attack vector requires only proximity to the target device, eliminating the need for complex network access or sophisticated attack infrastructure. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for IoT deployments, industrial control systems, and any application where uninterrupted Bluetooth communication is essential for proper operation.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates to the latest available versions of the affected TI SDK and BLE-STACK components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-248, Uncaught Exception, as it involves improper input handling and exception management within the Bluetooth stack. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1489, Service Stop, and T1566, Phishing, as it enables adversaries to disrupt services and potentially create conditions for more sophisticated attacks. Network administrators should also consider implementing physical security measures to limit unauthorized access to affected devices and monitor for unusual network behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.