CVE-2017-6445 in openElec
Summary
by MITRE
The auto-update feature of Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center (OpenELEC) 6.0.3 and 7.0.1 uses neither encrypted connections nor signed updates. A man-in-the-middle attacker could manipulate the update packages to gain root access remotely.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6445 affects Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center versions 6.0.3 and 7.0.1, representing a critical security flaw in the system's auto-update mechanism. This issue resides within the firmware update infrastructure that governs how devices automatically download and install system upgrades. The flaw stems from the complete absence of cryptographic validation and secure communication protocols during the update process, creating a fundamental security gap that exposes devices to sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-319 as the improper protection of data in transit, specifically concerning the lack of encryption for update communications. This weakness allows attackers to intercept and manipulate update packages without detection, fundamentally undermining the device's security posture.
The technical implementation of the auto-update feature in OpenELEC fails to incorporate any form of digital signatures or secure communication channels to verify the authenticity and integrity of update packages. When devices attempt to download updates from remote servers, the communication occurs over unencrypted channels, making it susceptible to interception and modification by malicious actors. This design flaw creates an environment where attackers can perform man-in-the-middle attacks, replacing legitimate update packages with malicious payloads that contain rootkit components or backdoor access mechanisms. The absence of cryptographic verification means that even if an attacker successfully intercepts and modifies update files, the device has no means to detect the tampering and will proceed to install the compromised software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple system compromise, as it provides attackers with persistent remote access to affected devices. Once an attacker successfully manipulates an update package, they can gain root access to the system, enabling them to execute arbitrary code with the highest privileges available. This level of access allows for complete system control, data exfiltration, and the potential for establishing persistent footholds within networks. The vulnerability affects a broad range of entertainment devices that rely on OpenELEC for their operating system, including media centers and set-top boxes that are often deployed in home and enterprise environments. The attack surface is particularly concerning because these devices are frequently left unattended and may be located in areas with limited physical security, making them ideal targets for remote exploitation. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072 for software deployment, where attackers use compromised update mechanisms to establish persistent access.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical sophistication, as it leverages fundamental weaknesses in network security protocols rather than requiring advanced exploitation techniques. Attackers can utilize standard network interception tools to capture update traffic and replace legitimate packages with malicious alternatives, making this attack vector particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. The lack of update integrity verification creates a trust boundary that can be easily compromised, allowing attackers to execute code execution attacks that bypass traditional security controls. Organizations and individuals using affected OpenELEC versions should immediately implement mitigations such as network monitoring to detect unusual update traffic patterns, manual update verification procedures, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of implementing secure update mechanisms in embedded systems and demonstrates how seemingly simple security flaws can create substantial risks in connected devices that form part of larger network ecosystems.