CVE-2025-8475 in iLX-507
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2025
Alpine iLX-507 AVRCP Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Alpine iLX-507 devices. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must connect to a malicious Bluetooth device.
The specific flaw exists within the implementation of the AVRCP protocol. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-26321.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2025
The CVE-2025-8475 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (AVRCP) implementation of Alpine iLX-507 automotive head units. This flaw resides within the Bluetooth audio streaming protocol stack, specifically affecting how the device processes incoming AVRCP commands from connected Bluetooth peripherals. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to validate the length of incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged for remote code execution. This issue impacts automotive infotainment systems where Bluetooth connectivity is enabled, potentially exposing vehicle networks to malicious actors who can establish adjacent network connections.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow pattern where insufficient input validation leads to memory corruption. When a malicious Bluetooth device establishes connection and sends specially crafted AVRCP packets, the Alpine iLX-507 device processes these packets without proper bounds checking. The insufficient validation allows an attacker to overflow a predetermined stack buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. This memory corruption enables attackers to redirect execution flow and ultimately execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively compromising the entire vehicle infotainment system. The vulnerability's classification as a stack-based buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient bounds checking allows data to be written beyond the allocated buffer space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to automotive cybersecurity as it enables remote code execution through Bluetooth connections without requiring physical access to the vehicle. The requirement for user interaction through device connection represents a realistic attack vector as drivers frequently connect their smartphones to vehicle audio systems. Attackers can position themselves within Bluetooth range and establish malicious connections to exploit this vulnerability, potentially gaining complete control over the vehicle's infotainment system. The root-level execution context means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to sensitive vehicle data, system configuration information, and potentially enable further attacks on other vehicle systems that may be connected to the same network infrastructure.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include broader automotive security implications, as identified in the ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact on automotive systems aligns with the increasing concern over vehicle cybersecurity as connected cars become more prevalent. Organizations implementing automotive security measures should consider this vulnerability as part of their threat modeling, particularly focusing on the Bluetooth protocol stack and its interaction with vehicle control systems. The ZDI-CAN-26321 reference indicates this vulnerability was recognized by the Zero Day Initiative, highlighting its significance in the cybersecurity community and the need for immediate remediation efforts. Mitigation strategies should include firmware updates from Alpine, network segmentation to limit Bluetooth access, and implementation of Bluetooth device whitelisting where possible to reduce the attack surface for this and similar vulnerabilities.