CVE-2020-13594 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) controller implementation in Espressif ESP-IDF 4.2 and earlier allows attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted packets.

Understanding CVE-2020-13594

The vulnerability in the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) controller implementation in Espressif ESP-IDF 4.2 and earlier can lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack.

What is CVE-2020-13594?

The Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) controller implementation in Espressif ESP-IDF 4.2 and earlier (for ESP32 devices) does not properly restrict the channel map field of the connection request packet on reception, enabling attackers within radio range to trigger a crash by sending a malicious packet.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13594

This vulnerability allows attackers within radio range to exploit the BLE controller implementation, potentially causing a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the system through specially crafted packets.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13594

The technical details of the CVE-2020-13594 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in the improper restriction of the channel map field in the connection request packet.

Affected Systems and Versions

Espressif ESP-IDF 4.2 and earlier for ESP32 devices are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers within radio range can exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted packet to the BLE controller, causing a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the CVE-2020-13594 vulnerability, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the latest version of Espressif ESP-IDF to patch the vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update firmware to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches released by Espressif to address vulnerabilities.