CVE-2017-2877 in C1 Indoor HD Camera
Summary
by MITRE
A missing error check exists in the Multi-Camera interface used by the Foscam C1 Indoor HD Camera running application firmware 2.52.2.43. A specially crafted request on port 10001 could allow an attacker to reset the user accounts to factory defaults, without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2877 resides within the Multi-Camera interface of Foscam C1 Indoor HD Camera devices operating firmware version 2.52.2.43. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the camera's network communication protocols. The device's failure to properly validate incoming requests on port 10001 creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to manipulate the device's user account configuration without requiring legitimate authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a missing error check that should have validated the authenticity and integrity of requests sent to the camera's Multi-Camera interface. When a specially crafted request is transmitted to port 10001, the device processes this malformed input without proper verification, leading to unauthorized account reset operations. This flaw operates at the application layer and exploits a weakness in the device's protocol handling that fails to implement proper access controls or request validation. The vulnerability specifically targets the user account management functionality, allowing attackers to reset accounts to factory defaults, effectively removing all configured user credentials and potentially compromising the device's security posture.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who rely on these network cameras for security monitoring and surveillance purposes. The ability to reset user accounts without authentication creates a pathway for unauthorized individuals to gain control over the device's access configuration, potentially leading to complete loss of device management capabilities. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates over a dedicated port that is commonly exposed to external networks, making it accessible to remote attackers. This vulnerability essentially allows for privilege escalation through account manipulation, enabling attackers to establish unauthorized access to the device's management interface and potentially compromise the entire surveillance network.
The security implications extend beyond simple account reset functionality, as this vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat modeling approaches. From a CWE perspective, this represents a weakness in error handling that falls under CWE-703, which covers improper or missing error handling, and potentially CWE-311, concerning the absence of encryption for sensitive data. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the T1078 technique for valid accounts and T1548.001 for abuse of privileges. Organizations using these devices face potential exposure to persistent threats where attackers can repeatedly exploit this vulnerability to maintain access to surveillance systems without detection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2877 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Foscam to address the underlying error handling deficiency. Network segmentation practices should be implemented to isolate these devices from critical network segments, while firewall rules should restrict access to port 10001 to trusted sources only. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns on the affected port and implement intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed requests targeting the Multi-Camera interface. Regular security assessments of networked devices should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other camera models or network equipment, as this represents a common pattern of insufficient input validation in embedded systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper error handling and access control implementation in IoT devices, particularly those handling user authentication and account management functions.