CVE-2015-4409 in NVR DS-76xxNI-E1
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow on Hikvision NVR DS-76xxNI-E1/2 and DS-77xxxNI-E4 devices before 3.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (service interruption) via a crafted HTTP request, aka the SDK issue.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4409 represents a critical buffer overflow condition affecting Hikvision network video recorder devices, specifically the DS-76xxNI-E1/2 and DS-77xxxNI-E4 models. This flaw exists within the device's software development kit implementation and affects firmware versions prior to 3.4.0, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these surveillance systems. The vulnerability operates through a carefully crafted HTTP request that exploits memory handling inconsistencies in the device's web server component, fundamentally undermining the system's stability and operational integrity.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when authenticated users send malformed HTTP requests to the affected devices, triggering memory corruption that leads to service interruption. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The attack vector requires authentication, making it slightly more restrictive than fully unauthenticated exploits, but still represents a serious threat to network security operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the device's SDK implementation, suggesting that the issue originates from how the system handles incoming HTTP protocol data within its software framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can disrupt critical surveillance operations and potentially compromise security monitoring capabilities. Organizations using these devices may experience unexpected service interruptions during peak operational hours, leading to gaps in security coverage and potential operational downtime. The vulnerability's classification as a service interruption rather than a complete system compromise means that while it does not typically enable unauthorized access to system resources or data, it severely degrades the availability of the surveillance infrastructure. This can create cascading effects where security teams must respond to service disruptions while potentially leaving monitored areas unprotected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4409 primarily involve firmware updates to version 3.4.0 or later, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow condition in the affected SDK components. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as access control lists to restrict HTTP request handling, monitor for suspicious traffic patterns, and maintain regular vulnerability assessments of their surveillance infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, highlighting the importance of maintaining secure device configurations and implementing proper network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed HTTP requests targeting known vulnerable components, providing an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts.