CVE-2002-0119 in Speed Touch Home
Summary
by MITRE
Alcatel Speed Touch Home ADSL Modem allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (reboot) via a network scan with unusual packets, such as nmap with OS detection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2019
The Alcatel Speed Touch Home ADSL Modem vulnerability represents a critical denial of service weakness that enables remote attackers to forcibly reboot the device through carefully crafted network traffic. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the modem encounters unusual packets during network scanning activities, particularly those generated by tools like nmap with operating system detection capabilities. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper input validation and packet filtering mechanisms within the modem's network processing stack, allowing malicious actors to exploit the device's response to malformed or unexpected network traffic patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate protocol handling within the modem's firmware, where the device fails to properly sanitize incoming network packets before processing them. When nmap or similar tools execute OS detection scans against the modem, they typically send specially crafted packets designed to elicit specific responses from target systems. These packets may contain unusual TCP flags, unusual port combinations, or malformed headers that the Speed Touch Home modem cannot properly handle. The device's failure to implement robust packet validation routines results in the system becoming unstable and ultimately rebooting in response to these malformed inputs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for home network users who may be unaware of their modem's exposure to remote attacks. The denial of service condition effectively disrupts internet connectivity for all devices connected to the network, potentially causing extended outages that can last several minutes while the device reboots and re-establishes its connection. Network administrators and security professionals must consider that this vulnerability could be exploited as part of larger attack campaigns where attackers use the modem as a vector to disrupt services or as a stepping stone for further reconnaissance activities.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it demonstrates poor security design principles in consumer networking equipment. The lack of proper input validation and the absence of rate limiting or anomaly detection mechanisms in the modem's firmware architecture creates an attack surface that can be easily exploited by even moderately skilled attackers. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-20, Improper Input Validation, as it represents a failure to properly validate network input and handle unexpected data patterns. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, where adversaries exploit weaknesses in network infrastructure to disrupt services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to external scanning activities. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules that restrict incoming traffic to the modem's management interfaces and disable unnecessary services. Additionally, firmware updates from the manufacturer should be applied immediately upon availability, as this vulnerability likely represents a known issue that can be addressed through proper code patches. Regular network monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual scanning patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, and network administrators should consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious packet patterns targeting network infrastructure devices.