CVE-2026-45816 in NimBLE
Summary
by MITRE • 07/24/2026
NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in Apache NimBLE in LE Long Term Key Request event.
This requires disabled asserts (otherwise assert would trigger before NULL dereference) and bogus (or misbehaving) controller, thus severity is low.
This issue affects Apache NimBLE: through 1.9.0.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.10.0, which fixes the issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2026
The vulnerability under discussion represents a null pointer dereference condition within the Apache NimBLE Bluetooth stack implementation specifically during handling of LE Long Term Key Request events. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of software defects that can lead to system instability or potential exploitation scenarios. The affected component operates within the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol stack where secure connections are established through key exchange mechanisms, making it a critical element in maintaining communication security.
The technical flaw manifests when the NimBLE stack processes LE Long Term Key Request events without proper null pointer validation. In normal operation, the system should validate that all pointers referenced during event handling contain valid memory addresses before attempting to dereference them. However, in this case, the code path fails to perform adequate validation checks, allowing execution to proceed with a null pointer reference. This condition typically occurs when the Bluetooth controller sends malformed or unexpected event data that the stack does not properly handle.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is constrained by specific preconditions that must be met for exploitation to occur. The vulnerability requires disabled assert mechanisms within the codebase, which normally would prevent execution from proceeding past the invalid pointer reference. Additionally, it necessitates a misbehaving or bogus Bluetooth controller that generates malformed events in a way that triggers the problematic code path. This dual requirement significantly reduces the practical exploitability of the issue, as most production environments maintain assert checks for debugging and error detection purposes.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which defines null pointer dereference conditions as a common class of software defects. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation or denial of service techniques, though the low severity classification suggests limited impact in real-world scenarios. The vulnerability affects Apache NimBLE versions through 1.9.0, indicating that the issue was present in multiple releases and required a specific code fix to address the improper pointer validation logic.
The recommended remediation involves upgrading to Apache NimBLE version 1.10.0 which includes the necessary code modifications to properly validate pointers before dereferencing them during LE Long Term Key Request event processing. This upgrade path addresses the core issue by implementing proper null checks and ensuring that the stack gracefully handles edge cases in event data processing. Organizations should prioritize this update to maintain system stability and prevent potential exploitation scenarios, particularly in environments where Bluetooth security is critical. The fix demonstrates standard software engineering practices of input validation and defensive programming that help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other code paths within the same software ecosystem.