Host crash via invalid LTK connection handle
Published Jul 24, 2026 · Updated Jul 24, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Apache NimBLE 1.9.0 and earlier allows attackers controlling the BLE controller to crash the host. ble_sm_ltk_req_rx accepts an LE Long Term Key Request event with an invalid connection handle and, when assertions are disabled, passes the resulting null connection object to ble_hs_conn_addrs. The flaw is reachable only through a bogus or misbehaving controller with assertions disabled, and the bounded consequence is a host crash.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Apache NimBLE 1.9.0 and earlier allows attackers controlling the BLE controller to crash the host. ble_sm_ltk_req_rx accepts an LE Long Term Key Request event with an invalid connection handle and, when assertions are disabled, passes the resulting null connection object to ble_hs_conn_addrs. The flaw is reachable only through a bogus or misbehaving controller with assertions disabled, and the bounded consequence is a host crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-45816
- Published
- Jul 24, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 24, 2026
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache NimBLE
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 24, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <=1.9.0
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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