CVE-2017-8330 in Almond
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Securifi Almond, Almond+, and Almond 2015 devices with firmware AL-R096. The device provides a UPnP functionality for devices to interface with the router and interact with the device. It seems that the "NewInMessage" SOAP parameter passed with a huge payload results in crashing the process. If the firmware version AL-R096 is dissected using binwalk tool, we obtain a cpio-root archive which contains the filesystem set up on the device that contains all the binaries. The binary "miniupnpd" is the one that has the vulnerable function that receives the values sent by the SOAP request. If we open this binary in IDA-pro we will notice that this follows a MIPS little endian format. The function WscDevPutMessage at address 0x0041DBB8 in IDA pro is identified to be receiving the values sent in the SOAP request. The SOAP parameter "NewInMesage" received at address 0x0041DC30 causes the miniupnpd process to finally crash when a second request is sent to the same process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2017-8330 affects Securifi Almond, Almond+, and Almond 2015 devices running firmware version AL-R096, representing a critical security flaw in the Universal Plug and Play implementation. This issue stems from inadequate input validation within the miniupnpd binary that handles SOAP requests, specifically targeting the "NewInMessage" parameter. The affected devices operate with a MIPS little endian architecture and utilize a cpio-root archive filesystem that contains all system binaries including the vulnerable component. The vulnerability manifests when a malformed SOAP request containing an oversized payload is sent to the UPnP service, causing the miniupnpd process to crash and potentially leading to denial of service conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the WscDevPutMessage function located at address 0x0041DBB8 within the miniupnpd binary, which receives the "NewInMesage" SOAP parameter at address 0x0041DC30. This function fails to properly validate the size and content of incoming data, allowing an attacker to send a malicious payload that triggers a buffer overflow condition. The crash occurs specifically upon the second request sent to the same process, indicating that the vulnerability is related to improper memory management and state handling rather than a simple buffer overflow. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to process termination and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks within the network infrastructure. The affected devices are designed to serve as home network routers and smart home controllers, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise home networks or gain unauthorized access to connected IoT devices. The vulnerability enables an attacker to remotely crash the UPnP service, potentially disrupting network connectivity and creating opportunities for further exploitation. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210, which involves exploitation of remote services and network protocols, and demonstrates how vulnerabilities in network infrastructure components can provide attackers with persistent access points.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Securifi, network segmentation to limit exposure of affected devices, and monitoring for unusual UPnP traffic patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management in embedded systems, particularly those handling network protocols. Security professionals should implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious SOAP request patterns and consider disabling UPnP functionality when not required. The issue also underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of embedded firmware components, particularly those handling network communication protocols, as identified in NIST SP 800-144 guidelines for embedded system security. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their IoT infrastructure and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to address similar issues in other networked devices.