CVE-2024-48289 in Bluetooth SDK
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2024
An issue in the Bluetooth Low Energy implementation of Cypress Bluetooth SDK v3.66 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via supplying a crafted LL_PAUSE_ENC_REQ packet.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-48289 resides within the Bluetooth Low Energy implementation of Cypress Bluetooth SDK version 3.66, representing a significant security concern that affects devices utilizing this software development kit. This flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered by adversaries who craft and transmit specific LL_PAUSE_ENC_REQ packets to vulnerable systems. The Cypress Bluetooth SDK serves as a foundational component for numerous IoT devices, wearables, and embedded systems that rely on Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for widespread deployment scenarios.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol stack implementation. When a crafted LL_PAUSE_ENC_REQ packet is received by a device running the affected Cypress SDK version, the system fails to properly handle the malformed packet, leading to a complete system crash or service interruption. This particular packet type is designed to pause encryption procedures within the Bluetooth LE connection, but the implementation lacks proper boundary checks and validation mechanisms to prevent malicious exploitation. The vulnerability falls under CWE-129, Input Validation, and specifically relates to improper handling of protocol-specific control packets that should be validated before processing. The flaw represents a classic example of a buffer over-read or improper state handling issue that can be exploited through carefully constructed network traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability and reliability of Bluetooth LE enabled devices across various industries. In IoT deployments, this could result in complete loss of connectivity for smart home devices, industrial sensors, or medical devices that depend on stable Bluetooth connections. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it accessible to attackers who may not require physical access to the target device. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, and demonstrates how protocol-level flaws can be leveraged to create cascading failures in connected device ecosystems. The DoS condition may manifest as complete device unresponsiveness, requiring manual reboot or power cycle to restore functionality, which can be particularly problematic in mission-critical applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-48289 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Cypress to address the root cause within the Bluetooth SDK implementation. Organizations should implement network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on anomalous LL_PAUSE_ENC_REQ packet patterns, serving as an early warning system for potential exploitation attempts. Device administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface, particularly for critical infrastructure deployments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive protocol testing and validation in embedded systems development, emphasizing that even fundamental communication protocols require rigorous security analysis. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed Bluetooth LE packets can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments of embedded systems can help identify similar implementation flaws before they can be exploited in the wild.