CVE-2021-21367 Information

Description

Switchboard Bluetooth Plug for elementary OS from version 2.3.0 and before version version 2.3.5 has an incorrect authorization vulnerability. When the Bluetooth plug is running (in discoverable mode) Bluetooth service requests and pairing requests are automatically accepted allowing physically proximate attackers to pair with a device running an affected version of switchboard-plug-bluetooth without the active consent of the user. By default elementary OS doesn’t expose any services via Bluetooth that allow information to be extracted by paired Bluetooth devices. However if such services (i.e. contact list sharing software) have been installed it’s possible that attackers have been able to extract data from such services without authorization. If no such services have been installed attackers are only able to pair with a device running an affected version without authorization and then play audio out of the device or possibly present a HID device (keyboard mouse etc…) to control the device. As such users should check the list of trusted/paired devices and remove any that are not 100% confirmed to be genuine. This is fixed in version 2.3.5. To reduce the likelihood of this vulnerability on an unpatched version only open the Bluetooth plug for short intervals when absolutely necessary and preferably not in crowded public areas. To mitigate the risk entirely with unpatched versions do not open the Bluetooth plug within switchboard at all and use a different method for pairing devices if necessary (e.g. bluetoothctl CLI).

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Reference

https://github.com/elementary/switchboard-plug-bluetooth/releases/tag/2.3.5 https://github.com/elementary/switchboard-plug-bluetooth/commit/86500e645a907538abafe5225b67cc12c03e7645 https://github.com/elementary/switchboard-plug-bluetooth/security/advisories/GHSA-5p3g-j69g-w2mq https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/O7TCGM4B45VLUJDCE5PHFYA5KBNHD4RA/ https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AV7WKO5SZHTF3QEMX4WZ576HRECIG6VQ/ https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/SWUPPVFG76PXQA3AHSGKYPRMVZ5AYHZI/

Attack Complexity

LOW

Privileges Required

NONE

User Interaction Required

NONE

Scope

NONE

Confidentiality Impact

UNCHANGED

Integrity Impact

HIGH

Availability Impact

HIGH

Base Score

NONE

Base Severity

8.1