CVE-2023-51596

Root code execution via unchecked PBAP copy

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in BlueZ 5.66 PBAP allows physically proximate attackers to execute code as root through a malicious device. The Phone Book Access profile copies user-supplied data into a fixed-length heap buffer without first validating its length. Exploitation requires the target to connect to the attacker's Bluetooth device, after which crafted profile data can corrupt memory and execute with bluetoothd's root privileges.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability1.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in BlueZ 5.66 PBAP allows physically proximate attackers to execute code as root through a malicious device. The Phone Book Access profile copies user-supplied data into a fixed-length heap buffer without first validating its length. Exploitation requires the target to connect to the attacker's Bluetooth device, after which crafted profile data can corrupt memory and execute with bluetoothd's root privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-51596
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
BlueZ Project
Product
BlueZ
Classifications
CWE-122, T1203
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.66

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

BlueZ Project · BlueZversion=5.66

Published CVSS scores

7.1Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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