KernelScan.io

HIGH

bluetooth SMP MITM Bypass

CVE-2026-43334

CVSS 8.8 / 10.0 NVD

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

KernelScan AI8.1HIGH

01

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.

02

Engine v0.2.0

Risk summary

Bluetooth devices configured for high security can be tricked into accepting weaker pairing without MITM protection. An adjacent attacker can bypass authentication requirements and potentially intercept or manipulate Bluetooth communications by initiating pairing without the MITM flag.

Affectednet/bluetooth/smp.c (Bluetooth SMP)

Vulnerability analysis

The vulnerability occurs in smp_cmd_pairing_req() where the responder builds the pairing response using the initiator's authentication requirements before enforcing local BT_SECURITY_HIGH policy. If an initiator omits SMP_AUTH_MITM, the responder also omits it despite requiring MITM protection locally. The fix forces SMP_AUTH_MITM in both auth and rsp.auth_req when high security is required, ensuring consistent enforcement. Attack surface is adjacent network access requiring Bluetooth proximity and no privileges.

03

BranchFixed inPatch commit
5.105.10.253425a22c5373d
5.155.15.2037ab69426e7ec
6.16.1.16801bb4045d230
6.126.12.81c8ff0ca65085
6.186.18.22fa14e0e19820
6.196.19.12ec17efb1ef91
6.66.6.13491649c02c1ba
mainline7.0d05111bfe37b