CVE-2017-2898 in Circle with Disney
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable vulnerability exists in the signature verification of the firmware update functionality of Circle with Disney. Specially crafted network packets can cause an unsigned firmware to be installed in the device resulting in arbitrary code execution. An attacker can send a series of packets to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2898 represents a critical security flaw in the firmware update mechanism of Circle with Disney devices, which are smart home security cameras designed for family protection. This vulnerability resides in the signature verification process that is supposed to ensure only authenticated and legitimate firmware updates are installed on the device. The flaw allows attackers to bypass the cryptographic signature verification checks that are fundamental to maintaining device integrity and preventing unauthorized modifications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of firmware signatures during the update process. When the Circle with Disney device receives firmware update packets over the network, it should verify the digital signature using a trusted public key to confirm the update's authenticity. However, the device's firmware update handler fails to properly validate these signatures, allowing attackers to craft malicious network packets that contain unsigned firmware images. This weakness creates a path for attackers to install arbitrary code on the device, effectively compromising its entire operational environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe implications for both device security and user privacy. The ability to execute arbitrary code on the device means attackers can gain complete control over the camera's functionality, including access to live video feeds, audio recording capabilities, and potentially the ability to manipulate the device's network communications. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through network-based attacks, requiring no physical access to the device. This makes it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to compromise devices from anywhere with network connectivity, potentially leading to unauthorized surveillance and data exfiltration.
The attack vector for this vulnerability involves sending specially crafted network packets to the device during the firmware update process. The attacker must construct packets that appear to be legitimate firmware updates but contain unsigned code that will be accepted by the device due to the broken signature verification. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms or improper implementation of cryptographic functions. The exploitation process follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges on target systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2898 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Device manufacturers should implement proper signature verification mechanisms that validate firmware images using robust cryptographic algorithms and trusted key management systems. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access to device update ports. Additionally, regular firmware updates and security patches should be deployed to address known vulnerabilities. The implementation of secure boot processes and hardware-based security features would provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future. Organizations should also consider monitoring network traffic for suspicious firmware update activities and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts.