CVE-2023-0775 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-0775 was published by Silabs on March 28, 2023. It involves an issue where an invalid 'prepare write request' command can lead the Bluetooth LE stack to exhaust memory, causing it to fail in handling subsequent connection requests, resulting in a denial-of-service.

Understanding CVE-2023-0775

This section will provide an overview of the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-0775?

CVE-2023-0775 relates to a vulnerability within the Bluetooth LE stack that can be triggered by sending an invalid 'prepare write request' command. The outcome is the exhaustion of system memory, leading to the failure to manage future connection requests, ultimately resulting in a denial-of-service scenario.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0775

The impact of this vulnerability is classified under CAPEC-123 (Buffer Manipulation), marking it as a medium severity issue. With a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5, the availability impact is high, while confidentiality and integrity impacts are none.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0775

In this section, we will delve into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an inadequate validation of 'prepare write request' commands in the Bluetooth LE stack, allowing for memory exhaustion and subsequent denial-of-service.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is 'GSDK' by Silabs, with versions up to v5.1.1 being vulnerable. Specifically, version 1.0 with a custom type is impacted by this CVE.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending a crafted 'prepare write request' command to the Bluetooth LE stack, an attacker can trigger the vulnerability, causing the system to run out of memory and fail to process incoming connection requests.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-0775, it is crucial to implement immediate steps, adopt long-term security practices, and ensure timely patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should prioritize updating the affected systems to the latest patched version.
Network segmentation can be employed to limit the impact of potential denial-of-service attacks.
Monitoring system resources for unusual spikes in memory usage can help in detecting potential exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust input validation mechanisms to prevent invalid commands from causing system disruptions.
Regularly audit and review the Bluetooth LE stack for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
Conduct security training for developers and personnel handling Bluetooth-enabled devices to enhance awareness of potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Silabs has provided patches and updates to address the vulnerability. It is recommended to promptly apply these patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Stay informed about security advisories from Silabs and other relevant sources to ensure timely deployment of security fixes.