CVE-2022-20046 in MT8167
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
In Bluetooth, there is a possible memory corruption due to a logic error. This could lead to local denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS06142410; Issue ID: ALPS06142410.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2022
This vulnerability resides within the Bluetooth implementation of a mobile operating system, specifically affecting the Bluetooth subsystem's memory management functions. The flaw manifests as a logic error that can result in memory corruption during normal Bluetooth operations, potentially leading to system instability and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no additional execution privileges for exploitation, making it accessible to any local user or process with basic system access. The absence of user interaction requirements means that malicious actors can trigger the vulnerability automatically without needing to deceive users into performing specific actions, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential impact.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes within the Bluetooth stack. When Bluetooth services process certain types of data or connection requests, the logic error causes the system to either write beyond allocated memory boundaries or attempt to access invalid memory locations. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow or more broadly relates to CWE-787 out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability's classification as a local denial of service indicates that while it doesn't provide remote code execution capabilities, it can still severely disrupt system functionality by causing the Bluetooth service to crash or become unresponsive.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as Bluetooth functionality is often critical for device operation and user productivity. When the Bluetooth subsystem becomes unstable, users may experience complete loss of wireless connectivity, inability to pair devices, or system-wide crashes that affect other services. The vulnerability affects the overall system reliability and can be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where mobile devices serve as primary communication tools. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort means of causing service disruption, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK technique T1499.100 which covers network denial of service attacks. The lack of privilege escalation requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by unprivileged processes or even by malware that has already gained limited access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided patch identified by patch ID ALPS06142410 and issue ID ALPS06142410. System administrators should prioritize deployment of this security update across all affected devices to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit potential attack vectors, though the local nature of this vulnerability means that physical access or existing system compromise would typically be required for exploitation. Organizations should also consider monitoring Bluetooth service stability and implementing automated alerting for unexpected service crashes or restarts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with the broader security principle of defense in depth, where multiple layers of protection are implemented to prevent single points of failure. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification that the patch has been successfully applied and that the Bluetooth subsystem operates correctly without memory corruption issues.