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CVE Record

CVE-2026-46123: Bluetooth: virtio_bt: clamp rx length before skb_put

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: virtio_bt: clamp rx length before skb_put virtbt_rx_work() calls skb_put(skb, len) where len comes directly from virtqueue_get_buf() with no validation against the buffer we posted to the device. The RX skb is allocated in virtbt_add_inbuf() and exposed to virtio as exactly 1000 bytes via sg_init_one(). Checking len against skb_tailroom(skb) is not sufficient because alloc_skb() can leave more tailroom than the 1000 bytes actually handed to the device. A malicious or buggy backend can therefore report used.len between 1001 and skb_tailroom(skb), causing skb_put() to include uninitialized kernel heap bytes that were never written by the device. The same path also accepts len == 0, in which case skb_put(skb, 0) leaves the skb empty but virtbt_rx_handle() still reads the pkt_type byte from skb->data, consuming uninitialized memory. Define VIRTBT_RX_BUF_SIZE once and reuse it in alloc_skb() and sg_init_one(), and gate virtbt_rx_work() on that same constant so the bound checked matches the buffer actually exposed to the device. Reject used.len == 0 in the same gate so an empty completion can no longer reach virtbt_rx_handle(). Use bt_dev_err_ratelimited() because the length value comes from an untrusted backend that can otherwise flood the kernel log. Same class of bug as commit c04db81cd028 ("net/9p: Fix buffer overflow in USB transport layer"), which hardened the USB 9p transport against unchecked device-reported length.

HighCVSS 7.7Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A flaw in Linux's virtual Bluetooth receive path can make the kernel process memory the virtual device never wrote. A malicious or defective backend could expose uninitialized kernel data or disrupt the system. Risk is concentrated in environments using virtio Bluetooth, especially where the backend is not fully trusted.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority targeted update, not an internet-wide emergency. Accelerate remediation where virtual Bluetooth is enabled or backend trust is uncertain. Standard patch cadence may be reasonable for systems proven not to use virtio_bt, but document that determination and monitor vendor guidance.

Technical view

virtbt_rx_work() trusted the length returned by virtqueue_get_buf() despite exposing only a 1,000-byte receive buffer. Lengths above 1,000 could extend the packet into uninitialized heap memory, while zero-length completions allowed virtbt_rx_handle() to read an uninitialized packet-type byte. The fix validates lengths against the actual exposed buffer size and rejects zero.

Likely exposure

Exposure requires an affected Linux kernel using the virtio_bt receive path and a malicious or buggy virtual Bluetooth backend. Systems without virtio Bluetooth usage are unlikely to reach this code. The supplied version data is complex, so distribution backports should be checked against the referenced commits rather than version numbers alone.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates local attack proximity, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction, with high confidentiality and availability impact. The source bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Successful abuse depends on control or malfunction of the virtio backend.

Researcher notes

The defect is an unchecked device-reported length and empty-completion handling issue, not a demonstrated overwrite. The described consequences are inclusion or consumption of uninitialized kernel heap memory, supporting confidentiality and availability concerns. Integrity impact is scored none. The supplied sources do not establish code execution, cross-tenant exploitation, affected distributions, or active exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported kernel update containing the appropriate referenced stable fix.
  • Check distribution advisories because vendors may backport fixes without changing to an obvious upstream version.
  • Prioritize virtualized systems that actively expose virtio Bluetooth to guests.
  • Follow vendor guidance if an update is not immediately available; no source-backed workaround is provided.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux systems and identify whether the virtio_bt driver is present and actively used.
  • Compare installed kernel builds and vendor backports with the referenced stable commits.
  • Confirm the updated receive path rejects zero lengths and lengths exceeding 1,000 bytes.
  • Review kernel logs for rate-limited virtio Bluetooth invalid-length errors after updating.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
9

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2026-46123 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.7 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.7CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H2.55.2Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.7High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-46123Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxcf2719a21fdb9d4c8e9c834d279163609bef575d, 160fbcf3bfb93c3c086427f9f4c8bc70f217e9be, 160fbcf3bfb93c3c086427f9f4c8bc70f217e9be, 160fbcf3bfb93c3c086427f9f4c8bc70f217e9be, 160fbcf3bfb93c3c086427f9f4c8bc70f217e9be, 160fbcf3bfb93c3c086427f9f4c8bc70f217e9be, 160fbcf3bfb93c3c086427f9f4c8bc70f217e9be, 9b67438e315b925a699f0178f4a48baf3d2d6ef4, 5.15.78, 6.0.8unaffected
LinuxLinux6.1, 0, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.140, 6.12.88, 6.18.30, 7.0.7, 7.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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