CVE-2017-2912 in Circle with Disney
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable vulnerability exists in the remote control functionality of Circle with Disney running firmware 2.0.1. SSL certificates for specific domain names can cause the goclient daemon to accept a different certificate than intended. An attacker can host an HTTPS server with this certificate to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-2912 represents a critical certificate validation flaw within the Circle with Disney smart home device firmware version 2.0.1. This device operates as a remote control system that relies on secure communication protocols to maintain device integrity and user privacy. The issue stems from improper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms that allow for certificate confusion attacks. When the goclient daemon attempts to establish secure connections to specific domain names, it fails to properly validate certificate subject names against expected values, creating an opportunity for man-in-the-middle attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the certificate verification process where the system accepts certificates that do not match the intended domain names. This behavior aligns with CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique of T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS. The goclient daemon's certificate validation logic appears to accept certificates based on partial matches or insufficient validation criteria, allowing attackers to host malicious HTTPS servers that present certificates matching the expected domain patterns while actually controlling the connection endpoint.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network eavesdropping to potentially enable full device compromise and unauthorized access to connected home networks. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can intercept and manipulate all communications between the Circle with Disney device and its intended servers, potentially gaining access to user credentials, device configuration data, and control over connected smart home components. This weakness creates a persistent backdoor that can be exploited repeatedly without detection, making it particularly dangerous in residential and commercial environments where such devices operate continuously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2912 should focus on implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms that enforce strict domain name matching and certificate chain verification. Device manufacturers should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are accepted for communication with trusted domains. Network administrators should consider deploying additional monitoring solutions to detect unusual certificate validation behaviors and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper certificate management and validation as outlined in NIST SP 800-57 and should be addressed through firmware updates that enforce stronger SSL/TLS certificate validation procedures. Additionally, users should be advised to keep their devices updated and to monitor for unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts.