CVE-2017-10724 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+0002+[2 byte length of wifipassword]+[Wifipassword]. This request is handled by "control_Dev_thread" function which at address "0x00409AE4" compares the incoming request and determines if the 10th byte is 02 and if it is then it redirects to 0x0040A7D8, which calls the function "setwifipassword". The function "setwifipassword" 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 described in CVE-2017-10724 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the firmware of Shekar Endoscope devices, which are widely deployed in industrial, automotive, and medical environments. These endoscope cameras function as networked video devices that stream data over UDP connections, making them potential entry points for attackers seeking to compromise air-gapped networks in critical infrastructure sectors. The device's firmware includes a UDP daemon named uvc_stream that processes incoming network requests through a dedicated control thread responsible for handling various device configuration commands. The specific memory corruption vulnerability manifests within the control_Dev_thread function at address 0x00409AE4, where the device processes SETCMD0001+0002+ formatted requests that allow users to modify Wi-Fi network credentials. When the 10th byte of an incoming UDP packet equals 02, the system redirects execution to address 0x0040A7D8, which invokes the setwifipassword function. This function implements a dangerous pattern where memcpy is called with the payload length determined by strlen instead of the actual buffer size, creating a classic buffer overflow condition that allows attackers to overwrite the program counter and execute arbitrary code remotely.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-defined attack path that leverages the device's network accessibility and the specific implementation flaw in the firmware's input validation mechanisms. The attack begins with an attacker connecting to the device's Wi-Fi SSID and sending a specially crafted UDP packet containing the SETCMD0001+0002+ format request. The strlen function used in the memcpy call processes the password field without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to provide a password string longer than the allocated buffer space. This memory corruption directly affects the program execution flow by overwriting the return address or program counter, enabling remote code execution. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The attack vector operates entirely through the network interface, requiring no physical access to the device, making it particularly concerning for industrial control systems where such devices may be deployed in sensitive environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple device compromise, as it provides attackers with persistent access to critical video surveillance and monitoring systems within industrial and medical facilities. The endoscope cameras' deployment in car garages, industrial systems, and medical clinics creates multiple potential attack surfaces where adversaries could gain unauthorized access to sensitive video feeds, potentially compromising operational security and patient privacy. More critically, the vulnerability's exploitation could enable attackers to establish footholds in air-gapped networks, which are typically considered secure due to their isolated nature from external networks. This represents a significant risk to critical infrastructure sectors where these devices might be used to monitor sensitive areas, as attackers could potentially use the compromised endoscope as a pivot point to access other networked systems. The attack's remote nature and the device's typical deployment in sensitive environments make this vulnerability particularly dangerous from both a security and operational standpoint.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10724 should focus on both immediate firmware updates and network-level security controls to prevent exploitation of the memory corruption vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize updating the device firmware to versions that address the buffer overflow condition in the setwifipassword function, ensuring that memcpy operations use proper bounds checking instead of relying on strlen for buffer size determination. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the ability of unauthorized users to connect to the device's Wi-Fi network, while also restricting the network access of these devices to prevent lateral movement if compromise occurs. The implementation of network monitoring and anomaly detection systems can help identify suspicious UDP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1071.004, which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Security teams should also consider implementing network access control lists and disabling unnecessary network services to minimize the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access to the vulnerable device components.