CVE-2014-1901 in Camera
Summary
by MITRE
Y-Cam camera models SD range YCB003, YCK003, and YCW003; S range YCB004, YCK004, YCW004; EyeBall YCEB03; Bullet VGA YCBL03 and YCBLB3; Bullet HD 720 YCBLHD5; Y-cam Classic Range YCB002, YCK002, and YCW003; and Y-cam Original Range YCB001, YCW001, running firmware 4.30 and earlier, allow remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (reboot) via a malformed (1) path parameter to en/store_main.asp, (2) item parameter to en/account/accedit.asp, or (3) emailid parameter to en/smtpclient.asp. NOTE: this issue can be exploited without authentication by leveraging CVE-2014-1900.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1901 affects a range of Y-Cam network video surveillance cameras including various models from the SD, S, Classic, and Original ranges along with specific bullet and eyeball variants. These devices operate with firmware versions 4.30 and earlier, making them susceptible to denial of service attacks that can cause unauthorized reboots of the affected devices. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within several web interface endpoints that handle user-supplied data through HTTP parameters. The affected parameters include path in en/store_main.asp, item in en/account/accedit.asp, and emailid in en/smtpclient.asp, all of which fail to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before processing. This lack of proper input validation creates opportunities for attackers to inject malformed data that triggers unexpected behavior in the device's web server implementation.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper parameter validation and sanitization within the web interface of these network cameras. When an attacker supplies malformed data through the specified parameters, the web server processes this invalid input without adequate checks, leading to unexpected program execution paths that ultimately result in device reboot operations. The vulnerability is classified as a denial of service condition because it allows an attacker to repeatedly cause the device to restart, effectively disrupting surveillance operations and potentially creating security gaps during the reboot process. This issue represents a classic example of improper input validation which maps to CWE-20, or "Improper Input Validation," and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in parameter handling within web applications. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it can be exploited without authentication when combined with CVE-2014-1900, which likely provides initial access or privilege escalation capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as these network cameras are typically deployed in security-sensitive environments where continuous operation is critical. When an attacker can remotely trigger device reboots, they effectively create a persistent availability threat that can be used to disable surveillance capabilities during critical periods. The reboot process itself may temporarily expose the device to additional attack vectors, as the system may be in a transitional state during restart. Network security operations teams must account for the possibility that these devices could be used as persistent attack platforms, with the reboot capability serving as a method to maintain access or as a means to prevent detection. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only authenticated access to the web interface, but the combination with CVE-2014-1900 removes this requirement entirely, making the attack surface significantly larger and more accessible to potential adversaries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions that address the input validation flaws in the affected web interface endpoints. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices and restrict web interface access to authorized personnel only. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual reboot patterns or unauthorized access attempts to these devices can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary web interface functionality when not actively required for device management. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1499.004 for "Network Denial of Service" and potentially T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" if the device's reboot behavior affects network connectivity. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments of their network camera deployments and maintain up-to-date inventory of all connected devices to ensure comprehensive vulnerability management across their surveillance infrastructure.