CVE-2017-2884 in Circle with Disney
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable vulnerability exists in the user photo update functionality of Circle with Disney running firmware 2.0.1. A repeated set of specially crafted API calls can cause the device to corrupt essential memory, resulting in a bricked device. An attacker needs network connectivity to the device to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2884 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Circle with Disney smart camera device running firmware version 2.0.1. This device, designed for home security and monitoring purposes, contains a user photo update functionality that has been found to be susceptible to exploitation through carefully crafted API calls. The vulnerability resides in how the device processes user photo update requests, specifically when these requests are repeated in a particular sequence. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with a buffer overflow or memory corruption vulnerability, where the device fails to properly validate or sanitize input data during the photo update process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific pattern of API interactions that, when repeated, cause the device's memory management to fail catastrophically. When an attacker sends a series of specially crafted API calls to the device's photo update endpoint, the device's processing logic does not adequately check the bounds of memory allocations or validate the structure of incoming data. This leads to memory corruption that can overwrite critical system components or data structures necessary for normal device operation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for a persistent denial-of-service condition that results in complete device bricking, rendering the security camera non-functional and effectively removing it from the network.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2884 extends beyond simple service disruption to represent a complete device compromise scenario. An attacker with network connectivity to the device can exploit this vulnerability to permanently disable the device, effectively removing it from the security infrastructure of the home or business. This represents a significant risk to users who rely on these devices for monitoring and protection purposes. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain its operational state and can prevent recovery without physical intervention or firmware reinstallation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where remote access is required for device management. The attack vector requires only network connectivity, making it accessible to remote attackers who may not need physical access to the device.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. The attack pattern follows principles described in the ATT&CK framework under T1499, specifically for network denial-of-service attacks, and represents a significant risk to IoT device security. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management in embedded systems, particularly those designed for continuous operation in security-critical environments. Organizations should implement immediate network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also planning for firmware updates and potential device replacement if the manufacturer has not provided a fix. The vulnerability underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of IoT devices before deployment and the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware to protect against known exploits.