CVE-2018-10658 in IP Camera
Summary
by MITRE
There was a Memory Corruption issue discovered in multiple models of Axis IP Cameras which causes a denial of service (crash). The crash arises from code inside libdbus-send.so shared object or similar.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10658 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple Axis IP camera models that fundamentally compromises system stability and availability. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition causing device crashes, which can be exploited to disrupt surveillance operations and potentially create security gaps in protected environments. The vulnerability specifically resides within the libdbus-send.so shared object library, indicating that the memory corruption occurs during inter-process communication operations that are essential for camera functionality and management.
The technical nature of this flaw falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and system instability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the shared library level, meaning that any application or service utilizing the dbus-send functionality within the camera's operating system can trigger the memory corruption. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory management when processing input data through the D-Bus communication framework, which is commonly used for system-level service communication in embedded Linux environments like those found in IP cameras.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10658 extends beyond simple device unavailability, as it can be leveraged to create persistent service disruption in security-critical infrastructure. Surveillance systems relying on Axis IP cameras may experience intermittent outages or complete system failures, potentially leaving monitored areas unprotected during critical periods. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for network-accessible devices. From an attacker perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks that target system availability. The memory corruption issue affects not only the immediate camera functionality but also the broader network infrastructure that may depend on stable camera operations for security monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from Axis as the primary remediation approach, as these updates typically contain patched versions of the libdbus-send.so library. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit potential attack vectors, while continuous monitoring of camera systems can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing redundant surveillance systems to maintain security coverage during potential outages, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing device availability issues in security infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date embedded device firmware and the potential consequences of memory corruption flaws in networked security equipment.