CVE-2018-9441
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2018-9441 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Android's Bluetooth SDP discovery component that could allow local information disclosure. Attackers could potentially read adjacent memory contents without additional privileges, though user interaction is required for exploitation. This affects Android devices running vulnerable versions.
💻 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
Local attacker reads sensitive data from adjacent memory regions, potentially exposing cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other sensitive information stored in process memory.
Likely Case
Limited information disclosure of non-critical memory contents, potentially exposing some application data or system information but unlikely to lead to full system compromise.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper memory protection mechanisms and ASLR enabled; attacker gains only limited, potentially non-sensitive data.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user interaction (such as accepting a Bluetooth pairing request) and local access. No public exploit code was widely reported.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android security patch level 2018-08-01 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/pixel/2018-08-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > Advanced > System update. 2. Install the August 2018 security patch or later. 3. Reboot device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bluetooth when not in use
androidTurn off Bluetooth to prevent potential exploitation through SDP discovery
adb shell settings put global bluetooth_on 0
Or manually disable in Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth
Restrict Bluetooth pairing
androidOnly pair with trusted devices and reject unknown pairing requests
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Bluetooth completely in device settings
- Implement strict Bluetooth usage policies and only allow pairing with authorized, trusted devices
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level. If date is before August 2018, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level shows 2018-08-01 or later. Also check that Bluetooth functions normally after patch.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual Bluetooth pairing attempts from unknown devices
- SDP discovery errors or crashes in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected Bluetooth SDP traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
Not typically applicable for mobile device vulnerabilities; monitor for Bluetooth-related security events on MDM/EMM platforms