CVE-2017-16279 in Insteon
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2023
Multiple exploitable buffer overflow vulnerabilities exist in the PubNub message handler for the "cc" channel of Insteon Hub running firmware version 1012. Specially crafted commands sent through the PubNub service can cause a stack-based buffer overflow overwriting arbitrary data. An attacker should send an authenticated HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability. In cmd s_net, at 0x9d0181a4, the value for the `port` key is copied using `strcpy` to the buffer at `$sp+0x280`.This buffer is 16 bytes large, sending anything longer will cause a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2023
The CVE-2017-16279 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in the Insteon Hub's PubNub message handling system, specifically targeting the "cc" channel functionality. This vulnerability resides within the firmware version 1012 of the Insteon Hub device, which serves as a smart home automation hub connecting various IoT devices. The flaw manifests when the device processes specially crafted commands transmitted through the PubNub messaging service, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors with network access to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the cmd s_net function at memory address 0x9d0181a4, where the system employs the unsafe strcpy function to copy data from the `port` key parameter into a buffer located at stack offset $sp+0x280. This buffer allocation measures only 16 bytes in size, creating an insufficient memory boundary for the potentially longer input data that can be received through the PubNub channel. The use of strcpy without proper bounds checking creates an exploitable condition where any input exceeding 16 bytes will overwrite adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected Insteon Hub device through authenticated HTTP requests. This capability allows adversaries to gain full control over the smart home automation system, potentially leading to unauthorized access to connected IoT devices, data exfiltration, or even physical security breaches. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an authenticated HTTP request, suggesting that attackers would need to either obtain valid credentials or exploit another vulnerability to reach the authenticated state. This makes the attack more sophisticated but not impossible, as many IoT devices may use default credentials or suffer from weak authentication mechanisms.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of unsafe string handling in embedded systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation and code execution technique, as attackers can leverage the buffer overflow to gain elevated privileges and execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor secure coding practices commonly found in embedded IoT devices where memory constraints and performance considerations often lead to the use of unsafe functions like strcpy instead of safer alternatives such as strncpy or strlcpy. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates, network segmentation, and authentication strengthening measures to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability and protect their smart home ecosystems from unauthorized access and potential compromise.