Adjacent code execution via silent Bluetooth pairing
Published Dec 17, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Improper access control in Linux kernel Bluetooth allows adjacent remote attackers to execute code through unauthenticated Just Works pairing. In hci_user_confirm_request_evt() in net/bluetooth/hci_event.c, the BR/EDR acceptor path auto-accepts pairing when neither side requests MITM protection instead of sending user space a confirmation request with confirm_hint set. An attacker must be within Bluetooth range and advertise compatible I/O and authentication capabilities; successful pairing creates a trusted bond and permits code execution in the current user's context.
Summary
What happened
Improper access control in Linux kernel Bluetooth allows adjacent remote attackers to execute code through unauthenticated Just Works pairing. In hci_user_confirm_request_evt() in net/bluetooth/hci_event.c, the BR/EDR acceptor path auto-accepts pairing when neither side requests MITM protection instead of sending user space a confirmation request with confirm_hint set. An attacker must be within Bluetooth range and advertise compatible I/O and authentication capabilities; successful pairing creates a trusted bond and permits code execution in the current user's context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-53144
- Published
- Dec 17, 2024
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-20, T1203
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 17, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 5, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=039da39a616103ec7ab8ac351bfb317854e5507c
- Affected versionversion=3.10.48 <3.11
- Affected versionversion=3.12.25 <3.13
- Affected versionversion=3.14.12 <3.15
- Affected versionversion=3.15.5 <3.16
- Affected versionversion=3.16
- Affected versionversion=3.2.61 <3.3
- Affected versionversion=3.4.98 <3.5
- Affected versionversion=373d1dfcffc63c68184419264a7eaed422c7958e
- Affected versionversion=6ab84785311dc4d0348e6bd4e1c491293b770b98
- Affected versionversion=778763287ded64dd5c022435d3e0e3182f148a64
- Affected versionversion=9a5fcacabde0fe11456f4a1e88072c01846cea25
- Affected versionversion=ba15a58b179ed76a7e887177f2b06de12c58ec8f <22b49d6e4f399a390c70f3034f5fbacbb9413858
- Affected versionversion=ba15a58b179ed76a7e887177f2b06de12c58ec8f <5291ff856d2c5177b4fe9c18828312be30213193
- Affected versionversion=ba15a58b179ed76a7e887177f2b06de12c58ec8f <830c03e58beb70b99349760f822e505ecb4eeb7e
- Affected versionversion=ba15a58b179ed76a7e887177f2b06de12c58ec8f <ad7adfb95f64a761e4784381e47bee1a362eb30d
- Affected versionversion=ba15a58b179ed76a7e887177f2b06de12c58ec8f <b25e11f978b63cb7857890edb3a698599cddb10e
- Affected versionversion=ba15a58b179ed76a7e887177f2b06de12c58ec8f <baaa50c6f91ea5a9c7503af51f2bc50e6568b66b
- Affected versionversion=ba15a58b179ed76a7e887177f2b06de12c58ec8f <d17c631ba04e960eb6f8728b10d585de20ac4f71
- Affected versionversion=bc96ff59b2f19e924d9e15e24cee19723d674b92
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
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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