CVE-2024-46869

What it actually does

The Bluetooth btintel_pcie driver in the Linux kernel failed to allocate memory for struct btintel_data used to store internal driver state, resulting in use of uninitialized memory and potential memory corruption during Bluetooth PCIe operations.

Why it matters to the business

Systems running affected Linux kernels with Intel Bluetooth PCIe hardware may experience driver instability, crashes, or unpredictable behavior when Bluetooth functionality is used, increasing operational risk for servers, workstations, and embedded devices; widespread kernel exposure amplifies potential downtime across environments.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with local access or the ability to trigger Bluetooth stack interactions can cause the driver to reference unallocated memory for btintel_data during device initialization or data handling, leading to corruption or crashes; listed threat actors involved in Linux kernel resource and bounds issues could chain this into broader attacks.

How to fix it

Update the Linux kernel to a version containing commit fa9e1c1b1f389a8e6d987ac6cb3e2ba04f8ec875 or later stable releases; for github.com/ecnepsnai/web update to 1.5.2 if applicable; prioritize patching given the memory corruption family and listed kernel exploitation campaigns.

How to confirm the fix worked

Verify kernel source or package version includes the allocation fix for btintel_data; test Bluetooth PCIe device load and data operations post-update to confirm no uninitialized memory references occur; review dmesg or kernel logs for prior allocation-related errors.

Typical attack path

1. Identify systems with vulnerable btintel_pcie driver in Linux kernel
2. Trigger Bluetooth PCIe device attachment or data transfer operations
3. Force driver code paths that reference unallocated btintel_data struct
4. Exploit resulting uninitialized memory for corruption or denial of service

How to detect it

Examine kernel logs and dmesg for Bluetooth btintel_pcie driver errors, memory allocation failures, or uninitialized resource warnings around device init; correlate with system crashes involving Bluetooth stack; review for patterns matching listed Linux kernel exploitation campaigns.

What your security team should do

• Apply kernel update containing fa9e1c1b1f389a8e6d987ac6cb3e2ba04f8ec875 immediately on affected systems
• Audit Linux deployments for Intel Bluetooth PCIe usage and schedule phased rollout
• Monitor for kernel oops or Bluetooth driver crashes as potential indicators
• Review downstream ecosystem impact given Linux kernel prevalence