CVE-2023-24947 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2023
Windows Bluetooth Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2023
The CVE-2023-24947 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Windows Bluetooth driver component that poses significant security risks to enterprise and individual users alike. This vulnerability specifically affects the Bluetooth Audio Gateway (BAG) functionality within the Windows operating system, where the flaw manifests in how the system processes Bluetooth audio streaming connections and related driver operations. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the Bluetooth driver stack, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring local access or user interaction. Security researchers identified that the issue occurs during the processing of malformed Bluetooth audio packets that are transmitted over the air, particularly when the system attempts to establish or maintain Bluetooth audio connections through the BAG interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages a buffer overflow condition within the Bluetooth driver's handling of specific audio stream parameters, enabling attackers to overwrite critical memory regions and ultimately gain control over the system's execution flow. This flaw operates at the kernel level within the Windows Bluetooth driver architecture, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard user-mode security controls and access system resources directly. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through unauthenticated network-based attacks, meaning attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring physical access or prior system compromise. The attack vector involves sending specially crafted Bluetooth audio packets that cause the driver to process invalid data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and system takeover.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations that rely heavily on Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming, device pairing, and wireless peripherals. The remote execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems from anywhere within Bluetooth range, potentially affecting corporate networks, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and residential environments where Bluetooth audio devices are commonly deployed. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10 and Windows 11, with the potential for widespread impact across various device categories from desktop computers to mobile devices and IoT endpoints. Organizations may experience service disruption, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive information, particularly in environments where Bluetooth audio services are enabled by default or where users frequently connect to unknown Bluetooth devices. The nature of the vulnerability also presents challenges for incident response teams, as the exploitation may not generate obvious network signatures and could be difficult to detect through traditional security monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-24947 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the vendor has released patches addressing the buffer overflow condition in the Bluetooth driver components. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit Bluetooth connectivity where possible, disable Bluetooth functionality on systems where it is not required, and monitor network traffic for suspicious Bluetooth-related activity. Security teams should consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous Bluetooth driver behavior and memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include configuring Windows Defender Application Control to restrict Bluetooth driver loading, disabling automatic Bluetooth pairing, and establishing robust network access controls that limit Bluetooth communication to trusted devices only. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Windows Command Shell execution and T1566 for credential harvesting through network-based attacks, making it a significant concern for organizations following NIST cybersecurity frameworks and requiring compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 for information security management. Organizations should also consider implementing zero-trust network architectures that validate all Bluetooth connections regardless of their source or previous trust relationships, as the vulnerability can be exploited through trusted network connections that are not properly secured against lateral movement attacks.