CVE-2025-53477
📋 TL;DR
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Apache NimBLE's Bluetooth stack occurs when HCI connection completion or command transmission buffers lack proper validation. This could cause crashes or instability in affected systems. The vulnerability affects Apache NimBLE versions through 1.8.0.
💻 Affected Systems
- Apache NimBLE
📦 What is this software?
Nimble by Apache
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
System crash or denial of service leading to disruption of Bluetooth-dependent services
Likely Case
Application instability or crash requiring restart, particularly with non-compliant Bluetooth controllers
If Mitigated
No impact when using standard Bluetooth controllers with asserts enabled
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires specific Bluetooth controller conditions and disabled asserts
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.9.0
Vendor Advisory: https://lists.apache.org/thread/1dxthc132hwm2tzvjblrtnschcsbw2vo
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Apache NimBLE version 1.9.0 or later from official sources. 2. Replace existing NimBLE installation with patched version. 3. Rebuild and redeploy applications using NimBLE. 4. Restart affected services.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Enable assert statements
allEnsure NimBLE assert statements are enabled in build configuration
Ensure NIMBLE_CFG_ASSERT is defined and enabled in nimble configuration
Restrict Bluetooth controller access
allLimit Bluetooth connectivity to trusted, compliant devices only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Ensure assert statements are enabled in NimBLE configuration
- Restrict Bluetooth connectivity to known compliant devices only
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if running Apache NimBLE version 1.8.0 or earlierCheck Version:
Check application documentation or build configuration for NimBLE versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Apache NimBLE version is 1.9.0 or later📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes or segmentation faults related to Bluetooth operations
- Error messages mentioning NULL pointer dereference in NimBLE components
Network Indicators:
- Unusual Bluetooth connection attempts from non-compliant devices
SIEM Query:
Search for application crashes with 'segmentation fault' or 'NULL pointer' in logs when Bluetooth operations occur