CVE-2017-17749 in Soundtouch
Summary
by MITRE
Bose SoundTouch devices allow XSS via crafted song data from a music service, as demonstrated by Pandora.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The CVE-2017-17749 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw in Bose SoundTouch smart speakers that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted song metadata from music streaming services. This vulnerability specifically affects devices that integrate with popular music platforms like Pandora, where attackers can inject malicious scripts into song titles, artist names, or album information that gets rendered on the device's web interface. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the SoundTouch device's web server implementation, which processes and displays metadata received from third-party music services without proper security measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user browses their music library on a SoundTouch device and encounters a maliciously crafted song entry. The device's web interface fails to properly escape or filter special characters in the metadata fields, allowing attackers to inject javascript code that executes in the context of the device's web browser. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on the device itself. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer and can be triggered simply by browsing the music library, requiring no specialized tools or direct device compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both individual users and enterprise deployments of SoundTouch devices. The attack surface is broad since it can be triggered through legitimate music services, making it difficult for users to identify malicious content. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent access to the device, potentially allowing attackers to monitor user activity, access personal information, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other networked devices. The impact extends beyond individual privacy concerns to potential network compromise, especially in corporate environments where these devices might be connected to internal networks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter for JavaScript. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding at multiple layers of the device's architecture, including the web server component that processes music metadata and the user interface that displays this information. Bose should implement comprehensive sanitization of all metadata fields received from external sources, employ Content Security Policy headers, and consider implementing a web application firewall to detect and block malicious payloads. Users should be advised to avoid streaming content from untrusted sources and to regularly update device firmware when patches become available, though the specific remediation for this vulnerability required firmware updates from Bose to properly address the input validation gaps in the device's metadata handling system.