Bose Home Speaker 500

Classification

Bose Home Speaker 500
Classification
Grade	A-
Calculator version	[[:Category:Calculator v|]]
Classification date
Information
Name	Bose Home Speaker 500
Brand by Parent	Bose by Bose Corporation
Generation	1
Model(s)	8308-011
Release date	2018-08-30
Type/Category	Smart Speaker
Website	[1]
Status	In sale
More
Dimensions	203 x 170 x 109 mm
Mass	2.15 kg
Operating system	Proprietary Bose OS
Companion App	Bose Music
CPU
GPU	N/A
Memory
Storage
Battery	None
Power	AC power cord
Charging	N/A
Display	Color LCD screen (for album art and information)
Camera	None
Sound	Two custom drivers, eight-microphone array
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2

Device
Criterion	Value	Proof(s)	Comment
Known hardware tampering	None	[2]	This is a sealed consumer electronics device with no user-serviceable parts. There are no public reports of hardware tampering being a viable attack vector.
Known vulnerabilities	Rare	[3]	While some older Bose products (like headphones) have had specific vulnerabilities demonstrated, there are no major, publicly disclosed vulnerabilities for this specific smart speaker model.
Prior attacks	None	[4]	There are no documented cases of widespread, successful cyberattacks targeting the Bose Home Speaker 500.
Updatability	Very common	[5]	The speaker automatically downloads and installs software updates when connected to the internet, ensuring security patches and new features are applied without user action.
Category score	2

System
Criterion	Value	Proof(s)	Comment
Authentication with other systems	Full	[6]	Integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as music services like Spotify and Apple Music. This integration uses secure OAuth protocols for authentication.
Communications	Encrypted with up-to-date encryption	[7]	Wi-Fi connections are protected by WPA2. All communication with Bose servers and integrated third-party services (like voice assistants) is encrypted using industry-standard TLS.
Storage	Encrypted with up-to-date encryption	[8]	User account information, linked services, and settings are stored on Bose's servers and are protected by encryption and other security measures as outlined in their privacy policy.
Category score	1

User Authentication
Criterion	Value	Proof(s)	Comment
Account management	Basic	https://www.bose.com/en_us/support/account_help.html	The device is controlled via a Bose Music account. Users can change their password, but as of late 2023/early 2024, Bose does not offer Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for customer accounts. This is a significant security weakness.
Authentication	Basic	[9]	Authentication relies solely on a username (email) and password. The lack of a second factor (2FA) means that a compromised password gives an attacker full access to the account and linked speaker controls.
Brute-force protection	Exist	[10]	Bose's online account system has standard protections against repeated failed login attempts, such as requiring a CAPTCHA or temporarily locking the account, to deter brute-force attacks.
Event logging	Absent	[11]	The Bose Music app does not provide a user-accessible security log showing account login history, IP addresses, or a list of devices that have controlled the speaker.
Passwords	Require change after setup with complexity requirements	[12]	A user must create a Bose Music account with a unique password. The system does not use default passwords and requires the user-created password to meet basic complexity rules.
Category score	2

Grade	A-