CVE-2017-8226 in IPM-721S
Summary
by MITRE
Amcrest IPM-721S V2.420.AC00.16.R.20160909 devices have default credentials that are hardcoded in the firmware and can be extracted by anyone who reverses the firmware to identify them. If the firmware version V2.420.AC00.16.R 9/9/2016 is dissected using binwalk tool, one obtains a _user-x.squashfs.img.extracted archive which contains the filesystem set up on the device that many of the binaries in the /usr folder. The binary "sonia" is the one that has the vulnerable function that sets up the default credentials on the device. If one opens this binary in IDA-pro, one will notice that this follows a ARM little endian format. The function sub_3DB2FC in IDA pro is identified to be setting up the values at address 0x003DB5A6. The sub_5C057C then sets this value and adds it to the Configuration files in /mnt/mtd/Config/Account1 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2023
The CVE-2017-8226 vulnerability affects Amcrest IPM-721S security cameras running firmware version V2.420.AC00.16.R.20160909, representing a critical hard-coded credential flaw that exposes devices to unauthorized access. This vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of default authentication credentials within the device firmware, where administrative credentials are embedded directly into the system code rather than being generated dynamically or stored securely. The flaw manifests through reverse engineering techniques that allow attackers to extract and analyze the firmware using tools like binwalk, which reveals the presence of a _user-x.squashfs.img.extracted archive containing the device's filesystem. The vulnerability specifically targets the ARM little endian binary "sonia" located in the /usr folder, which contains a vulnerable function at address 0x003DB5A6 that directly sets default credentials for the device's account configuration. This weakness creates a persistent security risk as the default credentials remain unchanged across deployments and can be readily discovered by any individual possessing the technical capability to reverse engineer the firmware, thereby violating fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software. The technical implementation involves the sub_3DB2FC function in IDA Pro that initializes credential values at a specific memory address, followed by sub_5C057C that writes these values to the Configuration files located at /mnt/mtd/Config/Account1, effectively establishing a persistent backdoor that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials, and represents a significant operational impact as it allows unauthorized users to gain administrative access to security cameras without requiring knowledge of the device's configuration or physical access to the network. The exposure of default credentials through firmware analysis creates an attack surface that can be exploited by threat actors to compromise surveillance systems, potentially leading to unauthorized video access, device manipulation, or use as a foothold for broader network infiltration. Organizations deploying these devices face elevated risk of security breaches, particularly in environments where physical security is inadequate, as the vulnerability enables remote exploitation without requiring specialized tools beyond basic firmware analysis capabilities. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire surveillance networks, as attackers can leverage these credentials across multiple devices sharing the same default authentication scheme. Mitigation strategies must include immediate firmware updates from the vendor, implementation of network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and comprehensive credential management practices that enforce unique authentication credentials for each device rather than relying on default configurations. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure software development practices and proper credential management as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, which emphasize the need for dynamic credential generation and secure storage mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.