CVE-2012-4329 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
The Samsung D6000 TV and possibly other products allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (continuous restart) via a crafted controller name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4329 affects Samsung D6000 television models and potentially other Samsung devices that utilize wireless controller communication protocols. This issue represents a significant security flaw in the device's wireless connectivity implementation that allows malicious actors to remotely trigger persistent system restarts. The vulnerability specifically targets the controller name parameter within the wireless communication framework, enabling attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit improper input validation mechanisms.
The technical flaw resides in the insufficient sanitization and validation of controller name parameters received by the television's wireless communication subsystem. When a malformed or specially crafted controller name is transmitted to the device, the system fails to properly validate the input before processing it. This lack of proper input validation creates an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can manipulate the device's normal operational flow. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and demonstrates poor defensive programming practices that violate fundamental security principles. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in input validation that could lead to denial of service conditions and potentially more severe impacts depending on the system architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as the continuous restart behavior can render the device completely unusable for extended periods. Remote attackers can maintain persistent denial of service conditions without requiring physical access to the device, making this particularly concerning for consumer electronics that are often deployed in residential or commercial environments where continuous operation is expected. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that threat actors can target multiple devices simultaneously from any location with network connectivity, potentially creating large-scale service disruption scenarios. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting consumer devices and IoT systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through readily available network analysis tools or custom scripts designed to craft malicious controller name payloads. The attack vector leverages the device's wireless communication protocols without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous for consumer electronics that typically lack robust security measures. Organizations and individuals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader IoT security assessments, as similar flaws may exist in other Samsung products that utilize the same wireless communication frameworks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and error handling in embedded systems, particularly those designed for consumer use where security considerations are often secondary to functionality and cost optimization. Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates that implement proper input validation, network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for unusual restart patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.