A missing length validation in the Zephyr Bluetooth Host ISO receive path can be triggered by malformed HCI ISO data. In bt_iso_recv() (subsys/bluetooth/host/iso.c), when processing PB=START/SINGLE fragments, the code pulls a TS SDU header (8 bytes, ts=1) or a non-TS SDU header (4 bytes, ts=0) without first verifying that buf->len contains at least that many bytes. The outer HCI ISO length check in hci_iso() validates payload length consistency but not the minimum inner SDU header size, so a packet with payload length 1 passes hci_iso() and then reaches net_buf_pull_mem(), which asserts buf->len >= len. As a result, malformed ISO traffic deterministically triggers a kernel assert (denial of service) in assert-enabled builds, and in non-assert builds the same path may proceed with an undersized buffer, leading to out-of-bounds read behavior. The issue affects products using the Zephyr Host with CONFIG_BT_ISO_RX enabled, particularly where incoming HCI data can be influenced by a malicious or compromised controller or malformed forwarded ISO traffic.
Weakness
The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
Potential Mitigations
- Assume all input is malicious. Use an “accept known good” input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
- When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, “boat” may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as “red” or “blue.”
- Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code’s environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
- To reduce the likelihood of introducing an out-of-bounds read, ensure that you validate and ensure correct calculations for any length argument, buffer size calculation, or offset. Be especially careful of relying on a sentinel (i.e. special character such as NUL) in untrusted inputs.