CVE-2017-2882 in Circle with Disney
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable vulnerability exists in the servers update functionality of Circle with Disney running firmware 2.0.1. Specially crafted network packets can cause the device to overwrite sensitive files, resulting in code execution. An attacker needs to impersonate a remote server in order to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2882 resides within the update mechanism of Circle with Disney smart home devices operating on firmware version 2.0.1. This represents a critical security flaw that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices through manipulation of network traffic. The vulnerability specifically targets the device's ability to authenticate and validate software updates from remote servers, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise the device's integrity and potentially gain full control over its operations.
This security weakness stems from insufficient validation of update sources and lack of proper authentication mechanisms within the firmware's update functionality. The vulnerability operates through a man-in-the-middle attack vector where an attacker must successfully impersonate a legitimate remote server to deliver malicious update payloads. The flaw enables attackers to overwrite critical system files with malicious content, effectively allowing code execution on the compromised device. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically involving inadequate access control mechanisms that permit unauthorized modification of system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device compromise, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the smart home environment. Once exploited, the compromised device could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network, potentially enabling lateral movement and access to other connected IoT devices. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous in residential and commercial smart home deployments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it enables code execution and potential privilege escalation within the device's operating environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from the vendor, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and implementation of network monitoring to detect suspicious update traffic. Organizations should also consider disabling automatic update features until proper authentication mechanisms are in place. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure update mechanisms in IoT devices and the critical need for proper cryptographic validation of software updates to prevent unauthorized modifications. Given the nature of the flaw, any device running the vulnerable firmware version should be immediately taken offline and updated to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.