CVE-2017-2865 in Circle with Disney
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable vulnerability exists in the firmware update functionality of Circle with Disney. Specially crafted network packets can cause the product to run an attacker-supplied shell script. An attacker can intercept and alter network traffic to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2865 represents a critical security flaw within the firmware update mechanism of Circle with Disney smart home devices. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the device's network communication protocols, specifically during firmware update operations. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate network traffic flowing to the device, enabling them to inject and execute arbitrary shell scripts on the affected hardware. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it leverages the legitimate firmware update functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making the attack vector appear benign to network monitoring systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of weak cryptographic verification mechanisms and insufficient authentication checks during firmware update processes. When the Circle with Disney device receives network packets intended for firmware updates, it fails to properly validate the integrity and authenticity of the received data. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to craft specially crafted network packets that contain malicious shell commands or scripts. The device processes these packets without adequate verification, leading to the execution of attacker-controlled code on the device's operating system. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and represents a classic example of command injection or code execution flaws that are frequently exploited in IoT devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the device and potentially the broader network it operates within. Once compromised, the Circle with Disney device can serve as a foothold for further network reconnaissance and lateral movement attacks. The attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to complete device compromise, data exfiltration, or use of the device as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for consumer IoT deployments where devices often lack robust security monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2865 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Device manufacturers should implement strong cryptographic signatures for all firmware updates, ensuring that only authenticated and verified firmware can be installed on devices. Network traffic monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous patterns in firmware update communications, and all network communications should be encrypted using robust protocols such as TLS 1.3. Additionally, devices should implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms, rejecting any firmware update packets that do not meet strict integrity checks. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of device compromise and implement continuous monitoring for unauthorized firmware updates. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure boot mechanisms and the need for robust firmware integrity verification in IoT devices, as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-147 and ISO/IEC 27030.