CVE-2015-8269 in Smart Toy Bear
Summary
by MITRE
The API on Fisher-Price Smart Toy Bear devices allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information or modify data by leveraging presence in an 802.11 network's coverage area and entering an account number.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The CVE-2015-8269 vulnerability affects Fisher-Price Smart Toy Bear devices that operate within 802.11 wireless networks, presenting a significant security risk to connected families. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the device's application programming interface that enables unauthorized remote access through simple network proximity and account information. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms and insufficient access controls within the device's wireless communication protocols, allowing attackers to exploit the system without physical access or complex exploitation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the device's API design failing to properly validate user credentials or implement secure session management. Attackers can leverage their presence within the wireless network coverage area to establish communication with the device and then use a simple account number to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or modify device data. This represents a classic case of insufficient authentication and authorization controls that aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication vulnerabilities in software systems. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor access mechanism that bypasses normal security boundaries through weak network-level authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential privacy violations and device manipulation. Families using these smart toys could face unauthorized access to personal data including child information, usage patterns, and potentially sensitive communication logs. The remote nature of the attack means that malicious actors do not require physical access to the device or specialized equipment beyond basic wireless network capabilities. This vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of IoT devices in domestic environments and represents a failure to implement proper network segmentation and access control mechanisms that should be standard in connected consumer products.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust authentication protocols and network-level security controls. Device manufacturers should enforce multi-factor authentication requirements, implement secure session management, and establish proper access control lists for network communications. Network administrators should consider implementing wireless network segmentation to isolate IoT devices from primary network resources and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure device design principles and adherence to cybersecurity frameworks such as those recommended by NIST and ISO/IEC 27001. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of IoT deployments to identify similar authentication weaknesses that could enable remote exploitation and data compromise through simple network proximity attacks.