CVE-2020-9770 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4. An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to intercept Bluetooth traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9770 represents a critical logic flaw in Apple's Bluetooth implementation that affects iOS 13.3 and earlier versions. This issue stems from inadequate state management within the Bluetooth subsystem, creating a potential avenue for man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw specifically impacts the handling of Bluetooth connections and their associated states, allowing malicious actors positioned within a privileged network to potentially intercept and manipulate Bluetooth traffic between devices. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly maintain connection states during Bluetooth handshakes and data transfers, creating temporary windows of opportunity for attackers to exploit.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in system components, and CWE-306, which covers missing security checks in the implementation of security features. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of weak state management where the Bluetooth protocol stack does not adequately validate connection states before processing incoming data packets. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1041 for Exfiltration Over C2 Channel, though in this case the C2 channel is Bluetooth rather than traditional network protocols. The improper state handling creates a scenario where connection parameters can be manipulated or intercepted without proper authentication or authorization checks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users who rely on Bluetooth connectivity for sensitive communications and data transfers. Attackers could potentially eavesdrop on Bluetooth communications between smartphones, tablets, and peripheral devices such as headphones, smartwatches, or automotive systems. The privileged network position required suggests that the attacker needs to be physically present in the same network segment or have access to network infrastructure that allows them to monitor traffic. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments or public spaces where Bluetooth devices are frequently used. The impact extends beyond simple data interception to potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as device spoofing or connection hijacking.
The mitigation for CVE-2020-9770 requires immediate deployment of iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 updates, which implement improved state management controls for Bluetooth connections. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and prioritize patch deployment across all devices. Network administrators should monitor for unusual Bluetooth traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though the specific detection methods remain limited due to the nature of the vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to isolate Bluetooth traffic, disabling unnecessary Bluetooth functionality when not required, and maintaining awareness of the specific network conditions that could enable exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing Bluetooth traffic monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous connection behaviors or state transitions that might indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability.