Buffer Overflow in Apache NimBLE

Executive Summary

This is a buffer overflow vulnerability in Apache NimBLE where the HCI socket transport does not verify if a received HCI event fits within the configured event pool before copying it. This allows a buffer overflow to occur. Exploitation requires either a misconfigured pool size or a malicious controller on the HCI socket link.

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Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, monitor logs for oversized HCI events in Apache NimBLE. Check for error statistics related to BLE_TRANSPORT_EVT_SIZE in the ble_hci_sock_rx_msg function. Use system logs or debugging tools to identify events exceeding the configured pool size.

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Impact Analysis

The impact is limited due to the low severity. It requires specific conditions like a misconfigured pool size or a compromised controller. If exploited, it could lead to memory corruption or crashes in the affected system running Apache NimBLE versions up to 1.9.0.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability is a buffer overflow in Apache NimBLE that could allow memory corruption if a misconfigured pool size or malicious controller sends oversized HCI events. While not directly tied to data privacy, such memory corruption could potentially lead to unauthorized data access or system instability, which may impact compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA that require secure data handling and system integrity.

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Mitigation Strategies

Upgrade Apache NimBLE to version 1.10.0 or later to fix the buffer overflow issue. Ensure the HCI event pool size is correctly configured to prevent oversized events from causing memory issues.

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