CVE-2023-21315 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Bluetooth, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a heap buffer overflow. This could lead to remote (proximal/adjacent) information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2023
This vulnerability exists within the Bluetooth protocol implementation where a heap buffer overflow occurs due to an out of bounds read condition. The flaw manifests when processing Bluetooth packets or data structures that exceed allocated memory boundaries, potentially causing the system to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues that can be exploited to extract sensitive information from system memory. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow which represents a common class of security flaws that can be particularly dangerous when they occur in network protocol implementations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires only proximity to the target device since it operates within the Bluetooth communication framework. No user interaction is necessary for exploitation, making it particularly concerning as it can be triggered automatically when Bluetooth devices attempt to communicate with vulnerable systems. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, session information, or other confidential data stored in memory locations adjacent to the corrupted buffer. This information disclosure capability stems from the fact that the heap memory management system may return data from adjacent memory locations when the buffer overflow occurs, effectively leaking information that was not intended to be exposed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it represents a fundamental flaw in how Bluetooth protocol implementations handle memory allocation and boundary checking. Systems utilizing Bluetooth functionality across various devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and IoT devices are potentially at risk. The vulnerability affects both the Bluetooth stack implementation and the underlying operating systems that manage Bluetooth communications. This type of flaw can be particularly problematic in environments where Bluetooth is used for critical communications or where devices maintain sensitive information. The remote nature of exploitation means that attackers do not need physical access to devices, but rather proximity to exploit the vulnerability through Bluetooth communication channels.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Bluetooth implementations and firmware updates from device manufacturers. System administrators should implement Bluetooth access controls and consider disabling Bluetooth functionality when not required. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect anomalous Bluetooth traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection to reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-125 which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and it could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack chains in the ATT&CK framework under the technique of credential access or information discovery. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments of their Bluetooth-enabled devices and maintain updated threat intelligence on Bluetooth-related vulnerabilities to ensure comprehensive protection against similar threats.