CVE-2017-7730 in iSmartAlarm Cube
Summary
by MITRE
iSmartAlarm cube devices allow Denial of Service. Sending a SYN flood on port 12345 will freeze the "cube" and it will stop responding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2019
The iSmartAlarm cube device represents a significant network security vulnerability classified as CVE-2017-7730, which exposes critical denial of service weaknesses in IoT infrastructure. This particular device operates on a proprietary communication protocol and utilizes port 12345 as its primary network interface for device management and control functions. The vulnerability manifests when malicious actors exploit the device's insufficient network protocol handling capabilities by initiating SYN flood attacks against the designated port, causing the device to become unresponsive and effectively frozen in operation.
The technical flaw underlying this vulnerability stems from inadequate network stack implementation within the embedded firmware of the iSmartAlarm cube. When the device receives a flood of SYN packets on port 12345, it fails to properly manage the connection state transitions and connection queue handling mechanisms. This weakness creates a condition where legitimate network traffic processing becomes overwhelmed, leading to resource exhaustion and complete service disruption. The device essentially enters a state where it cannot process any further incoming requests or maintain its normal operational functions, rendering the security monitoring capabilities of the device ineffective.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe consequences for security infrastructure deployments where iSmartAlarm cubes serve as critical monitoring components. The denial of service condition directly affects the availability of security services, potentially leaving monitored environments unprotected during the device downtime. Network administrators may experience complete loss of device telemetry data and control capabilities, while security personnel lose critical visibility into their protected premises. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by both sophisticated attackers and less experienced threat actors seeking to compromise security systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" in network protocol implementations, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Endpoint Denial of Service" through network service exhaustion. Organizations utilizing these devices face significant operational risks, particularly in environments where continuous monitoring and immediate response capabilities are essential for security effectiveness. The attack vector requires only network access to the targeted device and can be executed remotely, making it particularly concerning for distributed security deployments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing network-level protections such as rate limiting and SYN flood detection mechanisms at network boundaries. Device administrators should consider network segmentation to isolate critical security devices from general network traffic and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious SYN flood patterns. Firmware updates from the manufacturer should be prioritized to address the underlying protocol handling deficiencies, while network administrators should establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual connection patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing redundant monitoring systems and establishing clear incident response procedures for device failure conditions will help maintain security posture during potential exploitation events.