CVE-2025-26438
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass Bluetooth Secure Simple Pairing (SMP) authentication without user interaction, potentially enabling unauthorized device pairing and data access. It affects Android devices with vulnerable Bluetooth implementations. Remote attackers could exploit this to escalate privileges on affected devices.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android devices with Bluetooth functionality
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing attacker to pair with device, intercept communications, inject malicious data, and potentially execute arbitrary code via subsequent attacks.
Likely Case
Unauthorized Bluetooth pairing leading to data interception, man-in-the-middle attacks on Bluetooth communications, and potential credential theft from paired devices.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if Bluetooth is disabled or strict pairing policies are enforced, though the vulnerability remains present in the codebase.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires proximity to target device (Bluetooth range) and knowledge of the vulnerability. No user interaction needed makes this more dangerous in public spaces.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Update May 2025 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2025-05-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Install the May 2025 security update or later. 3. Restart device after installation. 4. Verify Bluetooth functionality post-update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bluetooth when not in use
androidTurn off Bluetooth to prevent any pairing attempts
adb shell settings put global bluetooth_on 0
Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth > Toggle off
Set Bluetooth to non-discoverable mode
androidPrevent device from being visible to other Bluetooth devices
adb shell am start -a android.settings.BLUETOOTH_SETTINGS
Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth > Device name > Turn off 'Make device discoverable'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Bluetooth completely in device settings
- Implement network segmentation to isolate Bluetooth-enabled devices from critical networks
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android version > Security update. If date is before May 2025, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level shows May 2025 or later. Test Bluetooth pairing functionality to ensure it still works properly.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected Bluetooth pairing requests in Bluetooth system logs
- Failed authentication attempts in Bluetooth security logs
- Multiple rapid pairing attempts from unknown devices
Network Indicators:
- Unusual Bluetooth traffic patterns
- Pairing requests from unexpected MAC addresses
- Bluetooth connections without proper authentication handshake
SIEM Query:
source="android_bluetooth" AND (event="pairing_request" OR event="authentication_failure") | stats count by device_mac