Hardware Security Threats Against #Bluetooth #Mesh Networks

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8433184/authors#authors

Security risks of Bluetooth

Man-in-the-middle attacks (#MITM):
Bluetooth connections can be susceptible to eavesdropping attacks if strong encryption is not used. Older Bluetooth versions (before 4.2) are particularly risky.

#Bluejacking & #bluesnarfing:
Attackers could try to send unwanted messages (bluejacking) or even steal data from devices (bluesnarfing).

Traceability:
Bluetooth devices often send unique #MAC addresses, which makes users traceable.

Weak standard pairing methods:
Many devices still use simple PINs or confirm connections without verification (e.g. "Just Works" mode with Bluetooth LE).

Risks specific to Bluetooth mesh networks

Mesh networks increase the attack surface:
Each device in the mesh acts as a relay, which means that a compromised device could influence the entire data traffic.

Lack of end-to-end encryption:
If the app/software does not implement additional encryption, messages can be forwarded in plain text.

Decentralized management:
Without centralized control, it is difficult to identify and remove malicious nodes.