CVE-2012-5963 in portable SDK for UPnP
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the unique_service_name function in ssdp/ssdp_server.c in the SSDP parser in the portable SDK for UPnP Devices (aka libupnp, formerly the Intel SDK for UPnP devices) 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long UDN (aka uuid) field within a string that lacks a :: (colon colon) in a UDP packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5963 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the portable SDK for UPnP Devices, commonly known as libupnp or the Intel SDK for UPnP devices version 1.3.1. This flaw resides in the ssdp/ssdp_server.c file within the SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) parser component, which is fundamental to UPnP device discovery and communication mechanisms. The issue specifically affects the unique_service_name function that processes Universal Device Names (UDNs) during SSDP packet handling, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain arbitrary code execution on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the unique_service_name function, which processes the UDN field in UPnP packets without proper bounds checking. When a UDP packet containing a malformed UDN field is received, the function attempts to copy the UDN string into a fixed-size stack buffer without verifying that the source data exceeds the buffer capacity. The vulnerability is particularly triggered when the UDN string lacks the required "::" (colon colon) delimiter that would normally indicate a proper UUID format, causing the parser to mishandle the input and overflow the allocated stack space. This classic buffer overflow condition creates a potential execution path where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent stack memory, potentially including return addresses and function pointers, enabling remote code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects the core discovery functionality of UPnP devices, which are widely deployed in home networks, enterprise environments, and IoT ecosystems. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious UDP packets containing overly long UDN fields, potentially compromising routers, network devices, media servers, and other UPnP-enabled equipment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader class of buffer overflow weaknesses that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack surface is extensive since UPnP implementations are prevalent across numerous network devices, including but not limited to home routers, network attached storage devices, printers, and multimedia devices that implement the UPnP protocol stack.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing malicious code, T1068 Exploitation for Command and Control, and T1133 External Remote Services for gaining access to networked devices. Organizations running affected versions of libupnp should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the library, implementing network segmentation to limit UPnP traffic, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SSDP packet patterns. Additionally, firewall rules can be configured to restrict UDP traffic on port 1900, which is the standard port for SSDP communications, while maintaining proper network access controls to prevent unauthorized discovery operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in network protocol implementations and serves as a reminder of the security implications of widely deployed network discovery protocols that may not adequately protect against malformed input conditions.