Severity by source
AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD.
CVSS VectorNVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
5DescriptionCVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Bluetooth: SMP: force responder MITM requirements before building the pairing response
smp_cmd_pairing_req() currently builds the pairing response from the initiator auth_req before enforcing the local BT_SECURITY_HIGH requirement. If the initiator omits SMP_AUTH_MITM, the response can also omit it even though the local side still requires MITM.
tk_request() then sees an auth value without SMP_AUTH_MITM and may select JUST_CFM, making method selection inconsistent with the pairing policy the responder already enforces.
When the local side requires HIGH security, first verify that MITM can be achieved from the IO capabilities and then force SMP_AUTH_MITM in the response in both rsp.auth_req and auth. This keeps the responder auth bits and later method selection aligned.
AnalysisAI
Authentication downgrade in Linux kernel Bluetooth SMP allows adjacent network attackers to bypass MITM protection during pairing. When a Bluetooth responder requires BT_SECURITY_HIGH, the SMP implementation incorrectly builds pairing responses before enforcing local MITM requirements, allowing initiators to force weaker 'Just Confirm' authentication even when policy mandates stronger methods. EPSS score of 0.02% indicates low predicted exploitation probability, and no active exploitation or public POC has been identified. Patches available across all supported kernel branches (5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.168, 6.6.134, 6.12.81, 6.18.22, 6.19.12, 7.0).
Technical ContextAI
The vulnerability resides in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth Security Manager Protocol (SMP) pairing implementation, specifically in the smp_cmd_pairing_req() function within net/bluetooth/smp.c. SMP handles cryptographic pairing between Bluetooth devices using various authentication methods determined by IO capabilities and security requirements. The flaw involves a logic ordering error where the responder builds its pairing response using the initiator's auth_req flags before validating them against the local BT_SECURITY_HIGH policy requirement. When an initiator omits the SMP_AUTH_MITM (Man-In-The-Middle protection) flag, the response mirrors this omission even though local policy requires MITM. Subsequently, tk_request() evaluates the auth value without SMP_AUTH_MITM and selects JUST_CFM (Just Confirm) method instead of PASSKEY_CONFIRM or NUMERIC_COMPARISON, effectively downgrading authentication strength. The vulnerability exists since commit 2b64d153a0cc (introduced in Linux 3.3) and affects the core Bluetooth authentication mechanism across all major kernel branches.
RemediationAI
Upgrade to patched kernel versions: 5.10.253 or later for 5.10.x series, 5.15.203+ for 5.15.x, 6.1.168+ for 6.1.x, 6.6.134+ for 6.6.x, 6.12.81+ for 6.12.x, 6.18.22+ for 6.18.x, 6.19.12+ for 6.19.x, or 7.0+ for mainline. Patch commits available at https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/425a22c5373d4e1b46492ab869074ebeeade61f3 (5.10), https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa14e0e19820b1bbdb42185c9c4efa950bcffef9 (5.15), and corresponding links for other branches. For systems unable to upgrade immediately, implement compensating controls: disable Bluetooth entirely if not operationally required (via 'rfkill block bluetooth' or BIOS settings), restrict Bluetooth pairing to trusted devices only through allowlist policies, or disable discoverability mode to prevent unsolicited pairing attempts. In enterprise environments, enforce Bluetooth policy via MDM/configuration management to prevent user-initiated pairing with unknown devices. Note that disabling Bluetooth impacts legitimate peripheral connectivity (keyboards, headsets, medical sensors). Workarounds do not address the underlying kernel flaw and should be considered temporary until patching is completed. Prioritize patching for systems in physically accessible public spaces or those handling sensitive data via Bluetooth connections.
Same technique Information Disclosure
View allVendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: High| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 | Fixed |
| SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | Fixed |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-ESPOS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | Fixed |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | Fixed |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | Fixed |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | Fixed |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 | Fixed |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Fixed |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | Fixed |
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-28618
GHSA-3ggx-x2j4-gfqr