CVE-2017-1000250

What it actually does

The SDP server in BlueZ 5.46 and earlier fails to properly sanitize or bound attribute requests, allowing remote attackers to read arbitrary memory contents from the bluetoothd process via crafted SDP search attribute requests over Bluetooth.

Why it matters to the business

Nearby attackers can extract sensitive data such as encryption keys, credentials, or internal state from Bluetooth-enabled devices without authentication, potentially enabling further attacks or data theft on systems that rely on BlueZ for wireless connectivity.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker within Bluetooth range connects to the target device, issues a series of malformed SDP search attribute requests that trigger out-of-bounds memory reads in bluetoothd, and receives the leaked process memory contents in the SDP responses.

How to fix it

Upgrade BlueZ to a version newer than 5.46 that contains the SDP server fixes; if upgrade is not immediately possible, disable the SDP server or restrict Bluetooth exposure to trusted devices only.

How to confirm the fix worked

Verify the installed BlueZ version is newer than 5.46; test by sending SDP attribute requests and confirming no excess memory is returned in responses; monitor for any remaining devices advertising vulnerable SDP implementations.

Typical attack path

1. Discover and pair or connect to a vulnerable BlueZ Bluetooth device over the air
2. Send crafted SDP search attribute requests to the SDP server
3. Receive and parse leaked memory contents from bluetoothd responses
4. Extract sensitive information such as keys or credentials for follow-on attacks

How to detect it

Examine Bluetooth stack logs and SDP server audit trails for repeated or malformed attribute search requests; look for unexpected memory-sized responses or process crashes in bluetoothd; correlate with nearby device discovery events in wireless logs.

What your security team should do

• Immediately inventory all systems running BlueZ 5.46 or earlier and schedule upgrades
• Apply vendor patches or update to the latest BlueZ release as the primary fix
• Limit Bluetooth discoverability and SDP exposure on affected devices until patched
• Review logs for anomalous SDP traffic as a temporary detection measure