Bluetooth interoperability problems with some newer mobile phones

[alexgg]

Customers implementing a GATT server application have reported communication problems with clients running on newer mobile phones like the Samsung S20.

The problems have been traced to a firmware revision change:

On v2021.10.2, the following exhibit the problem:

linux-firmware-rpidistro

cat balena-image-raspberrypi4-64-2021.10.2.dev.manifest | grep linux-firmware-rpidistro
linux-firmware-rpidistro-bcm43430 all 20190114-1+rpt10-r0
linux-firmware-rpidistro-bcm43455 all 20190114-1+rpt10-r0
linux-firmware-rpidistro-broadcom-license all 20190114-1+rpt10-r0

bluez-firmware-rpidistro

cat balena-image-raspberrypi4-64-2021.10.2.dev.manifest | grep bluez-firmware-rpidistro
bluez-firmware-rpidistro-bcm43430a1-hcd all 1.2+git0+e7fd166981-r0
bluez-firmware-rpidistro-bcm4345c0-hcd all 1.2+git0+e7fd166981-r0
bluez-firmware-rpidistro-cypress-license all 1.2+git0+e7fd166981-r0

While on v2020.07.2, the following don't:

linux-firmware-rpidistro

cat resin-image-raspberrypi4-64-2020.07.2.dev.manifest | grep linux-firmware-rpidistro
linux-firmware-rpidistro-bcm43430 all 0.0+git0+f0ad1a42b0-r0
linux-firmware-rpidistro-bcm43455 all 0.0+git0+f0ad1a42b0-r0
linux-firmware-rpidistro-broadcom-license all 0.0+git0+f0ad1a42b0-r0

bluez-firmware-rpidistro

cat resin-image-raspberrypi4-64-2020.07.2.dev.manifest | grep bluez-firmware-rpidistro
bluez-firmware-rpidistro-bcm43430a1-hcd all 0.0+git0+96eefffccc-r0
bluez-firmware-rpidistro-bcm4345c0-hcd all 0.0+git0+96eefffccc-r0
bluez-firmware-rpidistro-cypress-license all 0.0+git0+96eefffccc-r0

[alexgg]

Could be related to RPi-Distro/bluez-firmware#9

[alexgg]

Changelog between both versions:

e7fd166981ab (HEAD -> master, origin/master, origin/HEAD) 1.2-4+rpt8 release
8445a53ce2c5 Second Spectra fix for CYW43455 (CVE-2020-10370)
1e4ee0c05bae 1.2-4+rpt7 release
da4bfb1ecf41 Bug fix CYW43455 firmware
a4e08822e3f2 1.2-4+rpt6 release
929b7af9c43e Add BCM43430B0.hcd
c317a5c56847 1.2-4+rpt5 release
c3cab65cec7d 1.2-4+rpt4 release
e75a3f546a83 1.2-4+rpt3 release
ba01b70ddf3f Update to BCM43455 firmware with Spectra fixes
afe608e7055a Update to BCM43438 firmware with Spectra fixes
2e64c6624aa1 Add BCM4345C5.hcd
98cbd4489727 Post-Sweyntooth update of BCM43430A1 and BCM4345C0 hcds
fff76cb15527 (origin/buster) 1.2-4+rpt2 release
83921f41fe58 Rebase on Buster release

[jellyfish-bot]

[alexgg] This issue has attached support thread https://jel.ly.fish/32213295-a59a-4509-be08-1274a4cf4cbe

[alexgg]

https://community.infineon.com/t5/Security-Bulletin/Security-Bulletin-Potential-Wi-Fi-Bluetooth-Combo-Security/ba-p/246960

[alexgg]

The bluetooth firmware has been downgraded on ESR 2021.10.4, but both rolling and newer ESR versions are still using the new version which apply Spectra related fixes.

[mhazley]

Hey @alexgg I have encountered this problem on RPi3 using a Pixel 6 - I wondered if you could advise if this change is in latest RPi OS's or just the 2021.10.4 ESR, as I don't see that ESR for RPi 3.

Or a simpler question, is there a version for RPi 3 with this in? I only see 2021.10.2 for RPi 3 32bit

[alexgg]

hey @mhazley this change was only done for 2021.10 ESR raspberrypi branch as it also reverts patches that fix security vulnerabilities like Spectra. Hopefully the root problem should be addressed on the upstream firmware.
If this is affecting your fleet please contact us via our support channels (https://www.balena.io/support/) so we can gather some details and propose a solution.