CVE-2016-5054 in Lightify Home
Summary
by MITRE
OSRAM SYLVANIA Osram Lightify Home through 2016-07-26 allows Zigbee replay.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5054 affects OSRAM SYLVANIA Osram Lightify Home smart lighting systems through version 2016-07-26, representing a significant security flaw in the Zigbee communication protocol implementation. This issue enables unauthorized parties to perform replay attacks against the smart lighting infrastructure, undermining the fundamental security assumptions of the wireless mesh network. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms and lack of proper sequence number validation within the Zigbee protocol stack, allowing attackers to capture legitimate communication packets and retransmit them at a later time to execute unauthorized commands. The affected systems operate within residential and commercial environments where smart lighting controls are deployed, creating potential risks for both privacy and physical security.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to implement proper message integrity checks and authentication protocols within the Zigbee network layer. Specifically, the Lightify Home system does not adequately validate the sequence numbers or implement time-based freshness checks for incoming Zigbee commands, making it susceptible to replay attacks where captured packets can be reused to control lighting fixtures. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses and improper authentication mechanisms, particularly focusing on the absence of proper message authentication codes or digital signatures. The implementation flaw occurs at the application layer of the Zigbee stack where the system fails to validate the origin and freshness of received commands, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the communication channel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential privacy violations and physical security risks within smart home environments. An attacker capable of performing replay attacks could gain persistent control over lighting fixtures, potentially using this access to gather information about occupancy patterns, create false lighting scenarios for surveillance purposes, or manipulate the lighting system to disrupt normal operations. The vulnerability affects both residential users and commercial deployments where lighting control systems are integrated with other smart home components, potentially creating a foothold for broader network compromise. According to ATT&CK framework category TA0001, this vulnerability enables initial access through protocol analysis and credential exposure, while also supporting TA0002 persistence mechanisms through unauthorized command execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5054 should focus on implementing proper authentication and encryption mechanisms within the Zigbee network infrastructure. System administrators should ensure that all affected Lightify Home devices are updated to the latest firmware versions that address the replay attack vulnerability through proper sequence number validation and message authentication. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous communication patterns that might indicate replay attack attempts. The solution aligns with NIST SP 800-53 security controls that emphasize authentication and access control measures, particularly focusing on the implementation of secure communication protocols and proper session management. Organizations should also consider deploying network intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious Zigbee traffic patterns, as well as implementing periodic security assessments to verify the integrity of smart lighting network communications and ensure that proper security controls remain effective against evolving threat landscapes.