CVE-2008-7137 in Eye-Fi Manager
Summary
by MITRE
WS-Proxy in Eye-Fi 1.1.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an empty query string to port 59278 and other unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2017
The CVE-2008-7137 vulnerability affects the WS-Proxy component within Eye-Fi 1.1.2 software, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers. This vulnerability specifically targets the communication protocols used by Eye-Fi devices, which are wireless photo transfer systems designed to automatically upload photos from digital cameras to computers or cloud services. The affected WS-Proxy implementation listens on port 59278 and other unspecified ports, making it accessible to remote adversaries who can trigger system instability through crafted network requests.
The technical flaw manifests when the WS-Proxy component fails to properly validate incoming query strings, particularly those that are empty or malformed. When an attacker sends an empty query string to port 59278 or other vulnerable ports, the proxy service becomes unable to process the malformed input correctly, leading to a complete system crash or service disruption. This represents a classic buffer overflow or input validation vulnerability where the system does not adequately sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and demonstrates how insufficient sanitization of network inputs can lead to system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render Eye-Fi devices unusable for their intended purpose of automatic photo transfer. Attackers can exploit this weakness to repeatedly crash the device, preventing users from uploading photos, accessing their media library, or maintaining connectivity with their computer or cloud services. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the device, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for users who rely on these devices for critical photo management workflows. This weakness can be leveraged in broader attack scenarios where multiple devices are targeted simultaneously, potentially creating widespread service disruption for users in networked environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7137 should focus on immediate patching of the Eye-Fi software to version 1.1.3 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to port 59278 and other affected ports, particularly when the devices are not actively in use or when they are connected to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns or empty query string requests can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should follow ATT&CK framework tactics related to defense evasion and service stoppage by implementing proper network segmentation and access controls. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in network services, particularly for embedded devices that may not receive regular security updates, emphasizing the need for robust software development lifecycle security measures to prevent similar issues in future implementations.