CVE-2013-3655 in Aquos Hn-pp150
Summary
by MITRE
The Sharp AQUOS PhotoPlayer HN-PP150 with firmware before 1.04.00.04 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (networking outage) via crafted packet data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2018
The Sharp AQUOS PhotoPlayer HN-PP150 represents a network-connected multimedia device designed for displaying digital photographs and media content in residential and commercial environments. This device operates as a network appliance with embedded networking capabilities, enabling remote access and media streaming functions. The vulnerability exists within the device's firmware implementation, specifically in how it processes incoming network packets. The affected firmware versions prior to 1.04.00.04 contain a flaw in the network protocol handling mechanisms that fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming packet data. This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient input validation and can be classified as a weakness in the device's network stack implementation.
The technical flaw manifests when remote attackers craft malicious network packets specifically designed to exploit the device's packet processing logic. These crafted packets contain malformed or unexpected data structures that cause the device's networking subsystem to behave unpredictably. The vulnerability enables attackers to trigger a state where the device's network interface becomes unresponsive or enters a failure state, effectively causing a denial of service condition that disrupts normal network operations. The attack requires no authentication or specialized privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely by any attacker with network access to the device's network segment. This type of vulnerability represents a classic example of a network-based denial of service attack that leverages protocol implementation flaws rather than cryptographic weaknesses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect the overall network stability and availability within environments where the device operates. When the device becomes unresponsive, it can cause cascading effects on network infrastructure, particularly in environments where the device is integrated into larger network ecosystems. The denial of service condition may persist until the device is manually rebooted or the network connection is reset, creating potential business continuity issues for organizations relying on the device for media presentation. The vulnerability affects not just individual devices but can also compromise network-wide availability when multiple devices are present in the same network segment, as the network disruption can propagate through shared network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to version 1.04.00.04 or later, which contain patches addressing the packet validation issues in the network stack. Network administrators should implement access controls to limit network exposure of the device, including firewall rules that restrict access to the device's network ports and services. The implementation of network monitoring solutions can help detect unusual packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider segmenting network environments to isolate network-connected devices from critical infrastructure, following the principle of least privilege and network segmentation practices. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy where adversaries exploit device protocol implementations to cause service disruption. The vulnerability also relates to the common weakness enumeration CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a specific instance of the broader category of network protocol flaws that can be exploited for denial of service purposes.