CVE-2018-10088 in uc-httpd
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in XiongMai uc-httpd 1.0.0 has unspecified impact and attack vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2017-16725.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2024
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10088 affects XiongMai uc-httpd version 1.0.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables arbitrary code execution through improper input validation. This vulnerability resides within the web server component of the XiongMai surveillance camera firmware, specifically in how it processes HTTP requests and handles buffer boundaries during data processing. The flaw manifests when the system receives malformed input data that exceeds allocated memory buffers, creating conditions where attackers can overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute malicious code with elevated privileges. This particular vulnerability distinguishes itself from CVE-2017-16725 through its distinct attack surface and exploitation methodology, though both affect the same vendor product line.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs in the HTTP daemon's request handling mechanism where user-supplied data is directly copied into fixed-size buffers without adequate bounds checking. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing oversized payload data, the system fails to validate the input length against the allocated buffer space, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service since it can enable full system compromise, allowing attackers to gain root access to the embedded device and potentially use it as a pivot point for further network infiltration. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a common attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10088 presents significant risks for organizations utilizing XiongMai surveillance equipment, particularly in environments where these devices are deployed without proper network segmentation or regular security updates. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive video data, or use compromised devices as launch points for attacks against other networked systems. The embedded nature of the affected firmware means that traditional patching mechanisms may be limited, requiring device-specific recovery procedures that could result in service disruption during remediation efforts. Organizations with extensive XiongMai deployments face potential exposure across multiple network segments, especially when these devices are accessible from untrusted networks or lack proper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and TA0003 (Persistence) through various attack pathways including web application exploitation and post-compromise system manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10088 should prioritize immediate network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical infrastructure and implement proper access controls through firewall rules that restrict HTTP traffic to trusted sources only. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusually large payload sizes or malformed request structures. Device vendors should be contacted to obtain firmware updates that address the buffer overflow conditions through proper input validation and bounds checking implementations. In environments where patching is not immediately possible, administrators should consider disabling unnecessary HTTP services, implementing intrusion detection systems, and establishing network-wide monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow requires comprehensive security testing of all input handling mechanisms within the affected software stack, and organizations should develop incident response procedures specifically tailored to address embedded device compromise scenarios. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities in similar embedded systems that may share common architectural flaws with the XiongMai uc-httpd implementation.