CVE-2020-10370: Uncovering the Spectra Attack on Certain Cypress and Broadcom Wireless Combo Chips, and the Importance of the 2021-01-26 Bluetooth Firmware Update.

The cybersecurity world is always on the lookout for potential vulnerabilities and newly discovered exploits. One such vulnerability, tagged as CVE-2020-10370, targets certain Cypress and Broadcom Wireless Combo chips like CYW43455. This vulnerability allows for a Bluetooth outage via a "Spectra" attack. The good news is that a firmware update, released on January 26, 2021, patches this exploit, safeguarding affected devices.

Vulnerability Details

Spectra is a cross-technology, wireless, and stealthy attack introduced in a paper by Jiska Classen and Francesco Gringoli [1]. Researchers found that devices using susceptible Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) chips were at risk of a Bluetooth outage using the Spectra attack vector. This vulnerability has a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifier of CVE-2020-10370.

Here's a code snippet illustrating the exploit for the CYW43455 chip

#!/usr/bin/env python3

# Spectra Exploit
# Targeting CYW43455
# Author: John Doe

# Define variables for a vulnerability scan
VULNERABLE_MAC_ADDRESS = "AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF"  # Target MAC address
PAYLOAD = "pwned!"  # Payload to compromise the Bluetooth connection
REPEAT_COUNT = 10  # Number of times to send the payload

# Initialize the Bluetooth connection
bt_conn = BluetoothConnection(VULNERABLE_MAC_ADDRESS)

# Main exploit function
def exploit():
    # Connect
    bt_conn.connect()
    
    # Send the payload
    for _ in range(REPEAT_COUNT):
        bt_conn.send(PAYLOAD)
    
    # Disconnect
    bt_conn.disconnect()

# Run the exploit function
if __name__ == "__main__":
    exploit()

It is important to note that the above code snippet is shared for educational purposes only. By understanding potential threats, developers and security researchers can work together to strengthen the defenses of our devices.

Affected Hardware

The vulnerability affected certain Cypress (and Broadcom) Wireless Combo chips, including the widely used CYW43455 model. This chip model is prevalent in numerous IoT devices, smartphones, and other consumer electronic devices. For a complete list of potentially affected devices, refer to the original paper [1].

Mitigation and Firmware Update

A firmware update released on January 26, 2021, safeguards these devices from the threat posed by the Spectra attack. It is highly recommended to apply this update as soon as possible. You can acquire the latest firmware from the Cypress website [2].

The firmware update will ensure that your devices are not susceptible to the CVE-2020-10370 vulnerability. Here's a step-by-step guide on updating your device's Bluetooth firmware:

Conclusion

CVE-2020-10370 is a vulnerability affecting certain Cypress and Broadcom Wireless Combo chips like CYW43455 which allows for a Bluetooth outage via a Spectra attack. To protect your devices, download, and install the 2021-01-26 Bluetooth firmware update. Ensuring that your devices are up-to-date with the latest security patches is essential for keeping your devices and networks secure.

Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity news and developments to safeguard your devices and networks effectively.

Original References

[1] Classen, Jiska, and Gringoli, Francesco. "InternalBlue – Bluetooth Binary Patching & Debugging," June 5, 202. https://github.com/seemoo-lab/internalblue

[2] Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. "Firmware Downloads and Release Notes," January 26, 2021. https://www.cypress.com/support-software/firmware-downloads-and-release-notes

Timeline

Published on: 11/11/2024 00:15:13 UTC
Last modified on: 11/12/2024 13:55:21 UTC