Root code execution via unchecked PBAP counter length
Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Heap-based buffer overflow in BlueZ 5.66 allows physically proximate attackers to execute code as root through a malicious PBAP server. In obexd/client/pbap.c, read_version passes attacker-controlled Primary or Secondary Counter lengths to memcmp and memcpy without requiring the 16-byte field size, causing out-of-bounds heap reads and writes. The target must initiate a connection to the malicious Bluetooth device; successful exploitation compromises the PBAP client process with root privileges.
Summary
What happened
Heap-based buffer overflow in BlueZ 5.66 allows physically proximate attackers to execute code as root through a malicious PBAP server. In obexd/client/pbap.c, read_version passes attacker-controlled Primary or Secondary Counter lengths to memcmp and memcpy without requiring the 16-byte field size, causing out-of-bounds heap reads and writes. The target must initiate a connection to the malicious Bluetooth device; successful exploitation compromises the PBAP client process with root privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-50229
- Published
- May 3, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- BlueZ Project
- Product
- BlueZ
- Classifications
- CWE-122, T1203
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=5.66
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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