Major Security Flaw Found in Bluetooth Chips

Enterprise Security: Major Flaws Found in Bluetooth Chips

Security firm Armis has discovered two vulnerabilities in Bluetooth Chips from several networking industry leaders.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Nov 05, 2018

Two serious chip-level vulnerabilities that could potentially put "millions" of enterprise access points at risk was discovered last week by researchers at security firm Armis. The security flaws could allow hackers to gain access to networks completely undetected. 

The vulnerabilities have been named "Bleeding Bit" and involves the use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) chips used in enterprise wireless access points from several networking industry leaders that account for 70 percent of the market. 

The vulnerabilities can pose two significant problems, the first applies specifically to two chip models used in access points manufactured by Cisco and Meraki, while the second vulnerability affects devices made by Aruba. 

Armis called the vulnerabilities "Bleeding Bit" because the first bug involves "flipping the highest bit in a Bluetooth packet that will cause its memory to overflow—or bleed—which an attacker can then use to run malicious code on an affected Cisco or Meraki hardware," according to TechCrunch. 

The second flaw allows an attacker to install the malicious firmware on Aruba's devices because, according to TechCrunch, the software does not check to see if it is a trusted update or not.

While it is unknown if a potential attacker would ever use these flaws to exploit an enterprise, Armis CEO said in a statement that "Bleeding Bit" should serve as a wakeup call to enterprise security—especially since the vulnerabilities allow a hacker to slide in undetected.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Collaboration Made Easy Using a Work Management Platform

    Effective collaboration between security operators, teams and other departments is critical to the smooth functioning of organizations. Yet, as organizations grow in complexity, it becomes more difficult for teams to coordinate with each other. This is compounded by staffing shortages, turnover and ineffective collaboration tools. Read Now

  • Creating a Safer World

    Managing and supporting locks and door hardware within a facility is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging. Read Now

  • Creating More Versatility

    Today, AI has become top of mind for most security professionals. It is the topic of conversation in the technology world and continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. Read Now

  • Report: 78 Percent of CISOs Seeing Significant Impact from AI-Powered Cyber Threats

    Darktrace recently unveiled its 2025 State of AI Cybersecurity report. The findings reveal that 78% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) surveyed say that AI-powered threats are having a significant impact on their organizations, a 5% increase1 from 2024. While an increasing number of CISOs report feeling a significant impact from AI threats, more than 60% now say that they are adequately prepared to defend against these threats, an increase of nearly 15% year-over-year. However, insufficient AI knowledge and skills and a shortage of personnel and talent continue to be listed as the two top inhibitors to a successful defense. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.