CVE-2018-9432
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local attackers to bypass Bluetooth permission dialogs in Android, enabling unauthorized access to contacts without user consent. It affects Android devices where Bluetooth permissions are requested, requiring user interaction but no special privileges.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker with physical access could pair a malicious Bluetooth device and silently access all contact data without user knowledge or consent.
Likely Case
Malicious apps or paired devices could bypass Bluetooth permission prompts to access contact information that users intended to restrict.
If Mitigated
With proper patching, Bluetooth permission dialogs function correctly, requiring explicit user consent for contact access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user interaction (accepting Bluetooth pairing/connection) but no authentication or special privileges beyond that interaction.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Patch Level 2018-07-01 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2018-07-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > Advanced > System update. 2. Install the July 2018 security patch or later. 3. Reboot the device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bluetooth when not in use
androidTurn off Bluetooth functionality to prevent unauthorized pairing attempts
Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth > Toggle off
Review Bluetooth permissions
androidManually check and revoke Bluetooth permissions for suspicious or unnecessary devices
Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > [App name] > Permissions > Bluetooth
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Bluetooth completely in device settings
- Implement device management policies to restrict Bluetooth pairing to authorized devices only
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version in Settings > About phone > Android version. If running Android 8.0 or 8.1 without July 2018 security patch, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
Settings > About phone > Android version and Android security patch levelVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android Security Patch Level in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level shows 2018-07-01 or later.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected Bluetooth permission grants without user dialog
- BluetoothPermissionActivity bypass attempts in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Unauthorized Bluetooth connections to devices with contact access
SIEM Query:
android.security.bluetooth.permission.bypass OR BluetoothPermissionActivity.createPhonebookDialogView