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CVE-2026-43019: High Vulnerability in Linux Kernel Bluetooth

A high-severity vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel affecting Bluetooth functionality. Organizations must act urgently to mitigate potential risks as the vulnerability is marked as awaiting analysis.

HIGHCVSS 7.8 · Published May 1, 2026

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In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_conn: fix potential UAF in set_cig_params_sync. hci_conn lookup and field access must be covered by hdev lock in set_cig_params_sync, otherwise it's possible it is freed concurrently. Take hdev lock to prevent hci_conn from being deleted or modified concurrently. Just RCU lock is not suitable here, as we also want to avoid 'tearing' in the configuration.

The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. This score reflects the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, all of which are rated as high. Local access is required to exploit this vulnerability, which emphasizes the need for organizations to ensure proper access controls are in place.

Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and potential modification of Bluetooth settings, which could lead to broader security implications within the network. As this vulnerability is still awaiting detailed analysis, organizations should remain vigilant.

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability. Given the high severity and the nature of the affected technology, proactive measures are essential.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability is classified as a potential use-after-free (UAF) in the Bluetooth subsystem of the Linux kernel. The issue arises when the hci_conn lookup and field access are not adequately protected by the hdev lock in the set_cig_params_sync function.

The vulnerability's CVSS score of 7.8 indicates that it poses a significant risk, allowing for high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. This highlights the critical nature of addressing this vulnerability to protect organizational assets.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate locking mechanisms within the Bluetooth subsystem. The attack vector is local, meaning an attacker must have local access to the system to exploit the vulnerability. The attack complexity is low, and only low privileges are required, making it accessible to many potential attackers.

No user interaction is required for exploitation, further increasing the risk. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated as high, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to severe consequences.

Risk & Impact Analysis

The real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is significant, especially in environments where Bluetooth functionality is heavily utilized. The potential for unauthorized access and modification of settings could lead to broader security implications, including data breaches and system instability.

Organizations must consider the blast radius potential, as vulnerabilities in core components like the Linux kernel could impact multiple systems and services. Given the CVSS score and the identified risks, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

All versions prior to vendor patch.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations must apply the latest patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers to address this vulnerability. In the absence of an immediate patch, implementing configuration hardening measures and network controls can help mitigate risks.

Additionally, organizations should consider employing continuous penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of their security controls post-remediation.

Detection Guidance

Monitoring logs for unexpected Bluetooth activity and behavioral anomalies can assist in early detection of attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should keep an eye out for any unauthorized modifications to Bluetooth settings.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in its potential to disrupt Bluetooth functionality across various devices. As Bluetooth technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday devices, the risks associated with vulnerabilities in its implementation grow.

Security teams should learn from this incident by reinforcing their understanding of proper locking mechanisms in concurrent programming. Ensuring that critical sections of code are adequately protected can prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

To stay ahead of emerging threats, organizations should consider implementing a robust penetration testing methodology and regularly update their security frameworks.

Additionally, leveraging insights from the vulnerability management program can help organizations adapt to the evolving threat landscape.

Lastly, an understanding of trends in ransomware targeting trends can enhance an organization's readiness against multifaceted threats.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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