CVE-2017-10723 in Endoscope
Summary
by MITRE
Recently it was discovered as a part of the research on IoT devices in the most recent firmware for Shekar Endoscope that an attacker connected to the device Wi-Fi SSID can exploit a memory corruption issue and execute remote code on the device. This device acts as an Endoscope camera that allows its users to use it in various industrial systems and settings, car garages, and also in some cases in the medical clinics to get access to areas that are difficult for a human being to reach. Any breach of this system can allow an attacker to get access to video feed and pictures viewed by that user and might allow them to get a foot hold in air gapped networks especially in case of nation critical infrastructure/industries. The firmware contains binary uvc_stream that is the UDP daemon which is responsible for handling all the UDP requests that the device receives. The client application sends a UDP request to change the Wi-Fi name which contains the following format: "SETCMD0001+0001+[2 byte length of wifiname]+[Wifiname]. This request is handled by "control_Dev_thread" function which at address "0x00409AE0" compares the incoming request and determines if the 10th byte is 01 and if it is then it redirects to 0x0040A74C which calls the function "setwifiname". The function "setwifiname" uses a memcpy function but uses the length of the payload obtained by using strlen function as the third parameter which is the number of bytes to copy and this allows an attacker to overflow the function and control the $PC value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10723 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the firmware of Shekar Endoscope devices, which are widely deployed in industrial, automotive, and medical environments where secure video surveillance and remote access capabilities are essential. These endoscope cameras serve as critical components in various sectors including manufacturing, automotive maintenance, and healthcare facilities, where they provide access to hard-to-reach areas and generate sensitive visual data. The device operates as a UDP daemon through the binary uvc_stream that manages all incoming UDP requests, making it a prime target for remote exploitation. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the control_Dev_thread function at address 0x00409AE0, which processes configuration commands sent by client applications. When a client sends a UDP request to modify the Wi-Fi SSID using the format "SETCMD0001+0001+[2 byte length of wifiname]+[Wifiname]", the system fails to properly validate the payload length against the actual buffer size. The control_Dev_thread function evaluates whether the 10th byte equals 01 and, if so, redirects execution to address 0x0040A74C where the setwifiname function is invoked. This function employs memcpy with the length parameter derived from strlen() on the user-supplied Wi-Fi name, creating a classic buffer overflow condition. The flaw directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices where user input is not properly bounded before memory operations. This vulnerability allows an attacker within the device's Wi-Fi range to execute arbitrary code remotely, effectively compromising the entire device and potentially enabling access to sensitive video feeds and images that may contain proprietary information, medical data, or industrial secrets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device compromise, as it creates potential entry points for attackers seeking to infiltrate air-gapped networks that are critical to national infrastructure and industrial systems. The Shekar Endoscope devices are commonly deployed in environments where physical security is paramount, including manufacturing facilities, automotive repair shops, and medical clinics where unauthorized access could lead to significant financial loss, safety hazards, or data breaches. Once compromised, the device can serve as a persistent foothold for attackers to establish lateral movement within network segments, potentially leading to access to more sensitive systems. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can install backdoors, modify device behavior, or even redirect video streams to malicious endpoints. This vulnerability particularly threatens industrial control systems where such devices may be integrated into larger operational technology networks, and the attack surface becomes exponentially larger when considering that these devices often operate without traditional security controls. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can execute malicious code through compromised network devices, and T1046 for network service scanning, as the compromised device could be used to map network topology.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10723 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the setwifiname function, replacing the vulnerable strlen-based memcpy call with a fixed-length copy operation that respects buffer boundaries. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical systems and apply network access controls to restrict UDP traffic to only authorized clients. Device firmware updates should be prioritized and deployed immediately, with security patches that include proper buffer size validation and input sanitization. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual UDP traffic patterns, deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify exploitation attempts, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of industrial IoT devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and highlights the need for security-by-design principles in IoT device development. Organizations should also consider implementing device authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized clients can modify device configuration parameters, and establish robust patch management processes specifically for industrial IoT devices that may operate in environments where traditional software update mechanisms are not feasible. The attack vector emphasizes the need for network security controls that protect not just perimeter boundaries but also internal network segments where these devices may be connected.