CVE-2018-9486
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2018-9486 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Android's Bluetooth HID (Human Interface Device) profile implementation. It allows local attackers to read memory beyond allocated buffers via specially crafted Bluetooth packets, potentially disclosing sensitive information. This affects Android devices with vulnerable Bluetooth stacks.
💻 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
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local information disclosure of kernel memory or sensitive data from adjacent processes via Bluetooth proximity attack.
Likely Case
Limited information leakage of non-critical memory contents to nearby Bluetooth-enabled attackers.
If Mitigated
No impact if Bluetooth is disabled or device is patched; minimal risk with proper network segmentation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires Bluetooth proximity and knowledge of the vulnerability; no user interaction needed.
🛠️ 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 system updates in Settings > System > Advanced > System update. 2. Install Android Security Patch Level 2018-09-01 or later. 3. Reboot device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bluetooth
androidTurn off Bluetooth when not in use to prevent exploitation.
adb shell settings put global bluetooth_on 0
Or manually disable via Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth
Restrict Bluetooth Visibility
androidSet Bluetooth to non-discoverable mode to reduce attack surface.
adb shell am start -a android.settings.BLUETOOTH_SETTINGS
Then manually disable 'Make device discoverable'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Bluetooth completely when not needed
- Implement physical security controls to prevent unauthorized Bluetooth devices in proximity
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check 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:
Confirm Android security patch level is 2018-09-01 or later in Settings > About phone.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual Bluetooth HID connection attempts in Bluetooth system logs
- Multiple failed Bluetooth pairing attempts from unknown devices
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious Bluetooth traffic patterns from unexpected MAC addresses
SIEM Query:
source="android_bluetooth" AND (event="HID_CONNECTION" OR event="L2CAP_DATA_IND") AND status="ERROR"