CVE-2017-7648 in Networked Device
Summary
by MITRE
Foscam networked devices use the same hardcoded SSL private key across different customers' installations, which allows remote attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms by leveraging knowledge of this key from another installation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7648 represents a critical weakness in the cryptographic security implementation of Foscam networked video surveillance devices. This flaw stems from the manufacturer's decision to deploy identical hardcoded SSL private keys across multiple customer installations, creating a fundamental breach in the security model designed to protect network communications. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between Foscam devices and their respective users, as the shared private key eliminates the unique cryptographic identity that should distinguish each device's secure communication channel.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptography, and specifically demonstrates improper key management practices that undermine the core principles of asymmetric cryptography. When attackers obtain the hardcoded private key from one device installation, they can immediately impersonate that device or decrypt communications intended for other customers' installations. This cross-tenant exploitation capability fundamentally violates the principle of isolation that should exist between separate customer deployments, creating a single point of failure that affects multiple organizations simultaneously. The flaw operates at the transport layer security level, specifically targeting the SSL/TLS protocol implementation that should provide end-to-end encryption for device management and video stream transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it enables sophisticated attacks including man-in-the-middle scenarios where attackers can intercept, modify, or redirect communications between devices and their management systems. Network administrators lose confidence in the cryptographic protections they rely upon, while attackers gain the ability to access video feeds, modify device configurations, or even take control of multiple surveillance systems simultaneously. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Foscam devices for security monitoring, as the compromised cryptographic infrastructure undermines the entire security framework of their surveillance networks. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise since the private key is already known to attackers through various means including public disclosures or reverse engineering of device firmware.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7648 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should immediately disable SSL/TLS functionality on affected devices until firmware updates are available, implement network segmentation to isolate surveillance equipment, and consider deploying additional authentication mechanisms such as two-factor authentication or certificate-based authentication. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of unique cryptographic key generation for each device instance, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credential access through compromised credentials and T1046 for network service scanning that attackers might use to identify vulnerable installations. Device manufacturers must implement proper key management protocols including unique key generation for each device during production, regular cryptographic key rotation, and secure storage mechanisms that prevent unauthorized access to private keys. This vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the importance of following security best practices in embedded systems development and the dangers of hardcoded credentials in networked devices that operate in untrusted environments.