CVE-2018-9482
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2018-9482 is an integer overflow vulnerability in Android's Bluetooth service that allows local attackers to read memory beyond intended boundaries without user interaction. This could lead to information disclosure of sensitive data from the Bluetooth stack. Affected systems are Android devices with vulnerable Bluetooth implementations.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local attacker gains unauthorized read access to sensitive Bluetooth stack memory, potentially exposing cryptographic keys, pairing information, or other device data.
Likely Case
Local information disclosure of Bluetooth-related data, potentially exposing device identifiers or connection information.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if patched; unpatched systems remain vulnerable to local information disclosure.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access to the device. No user interaction needed, but attacker needs to execute code locally.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Patch Level 2018-09-01 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2018-09-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > Advanced > System update. 2. Install the September 2018 security patch or later. 3. Reboot the device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bluetooth
androidTemporarily disable Bluetooth to prevent exploitation until patched
adb shell settings put global bluetooth_on 0
Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth > Turn off
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict physical access to vulnerable devices
- Implement application sandboxing and least privilege principles to limit local code execution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android security patch level: Settings > About phone > Android security patch level. If earlier than 2018-09-01, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android security patch level is 2018-09-01 or later. Also check that Bluetooth functions normally after patch.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual Bluetooth stack crashes or errors in system logs
- Multiple failed Bluetooth connection attempts from local processes
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="android_system" AND ("btif_hd" OR "Bluetooth" AND "crash" OR "exception")