CVE-2017-8867 in Dino Smart Toy
Summary
by MITRE
Elemental Path's CogniToys Dino smart toys through firmware version 0.0.794 use AES-128 with ECB mode to encrypt voice traffic between the device and remote server, allowing a malicious user to map encrypted traffic to a particular AES key index and gaining further access to eavesdrop on privacy-sensitive voice communication of a child and their Dino device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8867 affects Elemental Path's CogniToys Dino smart toys, specifically targeting devices running firmware versions up to 0.0.794. This represents a critical security flaw in the device's communication encryption mechanism that fundamentally undermines the privacy and security of children's interactions with the toy. The vulnerability stems from the implementation of cryptographic protocols that fail to meet basic security requirements for protecting sensitive data transmission between consumer IoT devices and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of AES-128 encryption in Electronic Codebook (ECB) mode, which constitutes a severe cryptographic weakness that violates fundamental security principles. ECB mode encryption processes data in fixed-size blocks without incorporating any form of randomization or chaining mechanism, making it susceptible to pattern analysis and cryptanalysis attacks. This specific implementation choice directly maps to CWE-327, which identifies the use of weak encryption algorithms and modes of operation that are vulnerable to various attacks including pattern recognition and key recovery. The deterministic nature of ECB encryption means that identical plaintext blocks will always produce identical ciphertext blocks, creating predictable patterns that malicious actors can exploit to reconstruct sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, particularly given the target demographic of children and the nature of the communication being intercepted. The device's voice traffic encryption weakness allows attackers to perform traffic analysis and potentially reconstruct voice communications, creating a significant privacy breach that could expose children's conversations and interactions with the toy. This vulnerability directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping scenarios where malicious actors can monitor and potentially manipulate communications between the child and the device. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects toys designed for young children, where privacy protection is paramount and the potential for exploitation is high. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving credential access through network traffic interception and data leakage through insecure communications channels.
The security implications of this flaw are compounded by the fact that it represents a fundamental failure in cryptographic implementation rather than a simple configuration issue. The use of ECB mode encryption violates industry best practices and security standards established by organizations such as NIST, which explicitly recommends against using ECB mode for any application requiring secure encryption. The vulnerability creates a scenario where an attacker with network access can potentially map encrypted traffic patterns to specific AES key indices, effectively breaking the encryption scheme. This weakness allows for the reconstruction of voice communications and could potentially enable further exploitation of the device's functionality, including the possibility of command injection or unauthorized access to the device's control mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in IoT devices, particularly those designed for vulnerable populations such as children, where the consequences of security failures can be severe and long-lasting.