CVE-2012-3913 in Vc240 Network Bullet Camera
Summary
by MITRE
The Cisco VC220 and VC240 cameras allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (WebUI outage) via crafted packets, aka Bug IDs CSCtf73188, CSCtf88059, CSCtf87951, CSCtf87908, and CSCtf88019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2019
The Cisco VC220 and VC240 network video cameras represent a critical class of IoT devices that expose web-based management interfaces to remote attackers. These devices operate within enterprise and industrial environments where continuous video surveillance is essential for security operations. The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3913 specifically targets the web user interface component of these cameras, creating a remote denial of service condition that can completely disrupt video surveillance operations. This vulnerability affects multiple bug IDs including CSCtf73188, CSCtf88059, CSCtf87951, CSCtf87908, and CSCtf88019, indicating a systemic issue rather than an isolated flaw in the device firmware. The attack vector involves sending crafted network packets that exploit weaknesses in the web server implementation, causing the device's web interface to become unresponsive and effectively rendering the camera inaccessible for remote management and configuration.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation within the web server component of the camera firmware. When the device receives malformed or specially crafted packets, the web server process fails to properly handle these inputs, leading to a crash or hang condition that affects the entire web user interface service. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, or CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow conditions in heap-based memory. The exploitation process requires minimal privileges as attackers can trigger this condition remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for networked surveillance systems. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the device fails to implement proper error handling and input sanitization for web requests, allowing malformed data to propagate through the system and cause service disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, potentially compromising enterprise security infrastructure. When the web user interface becomes unavailable, system administrators lose the ability to remotely configure camera settings, monitor device status, or perform routine maintenance tasks. This creates a significant operational risk for organizations that rely on these cameras for continuous surveillance, as they may be forced to deploy physical personnel to access devices directly, increasing operational costs and security exposure. The vulnerability particularly affects industrial control systems and enterprise security deployments where remote management is critical for maintaining distributed surveillance networks. From an attacker perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact method for disrupting security operations, as the attack can be executed from anywhere on the network without requiring specialized tools or extensive knowledge of the target system. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption attacks targeting network infrastructure devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from Cisco, as the issue affects the core web server functionality of these devices. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices and reduce the attack surface available to potential attackers. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and defensive programming practices in embedded systems, particularly those with web interfaces. Organizations should also establish procedures for regularly updating firmware on networked devices and maintain inventories of all connected surveillance equipment to ensure comprehensive vulnerability management. The issue demonstrates the critical need for security testing of web interfaces in IoT devices, as these interfaces often represent the primary attack surface for remote exploitation. Additionally, implementing network access controls and restricting administrative access to only trusted networks can help minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities in the event of exploitation.