CVE-2018-10659 in IP Camera
Summary
by MITRE
There was a Memory Corruption issue discovered in multiple models of Axis IP Cameras which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) by sending a crafted command which will result in a code path that calls the UND undefined ARM instruction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10659 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple Axis IP camera models that demonstrates a classic undefined instruction handling issue within embedded networking devices. This vulnerability resides in the firmware implementation of these security cameras, specifically within their ARM-based processing architecture where a malformed command can trigger an unexpected execution path leading to system instability. The flaw manifests when the device receives a specially crafted command that directs execution into a code path containing the UND undefined ARM instruction, which is designed to generate a processor exception when encountered during normal operation. This particular vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper input validation and memory management issues that plague embedded systems in the Internet of Things ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires remote attacker capabilities to send malicious commands to the affected Axis IP camera models, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where these devices are accessible from external networks. The UND instruction in ARM architecture is intended to be used only in specific contexts such as debugging or system initialization, but when encountered during normal operation due to memory corruption or malformed input, it triggers an immediate processor exception that results in system crash and subsequent denial of service. This type of vulnerability is classified as a memory corruption issue and aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific manifestation in this case involves undefined instruction execution rather than traditional buffer overflows. The ARM architecture's undefined instruction handling mechanism provides a direct pathway for attackers to force system termination without requiring complex exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10659 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the availability of critical surveillance infrastructure in environments where Axis IP cameras serve as primary security monitoring devices. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can cause cameras to repeatedly crash and restart, creating gaps in surveillance coverage that attackers could exploit for further intrusion attempts. The remote nature of the attack means that organizations cannot rely on network segmentation or physical security measures alone to protect against this threat, as the vulnerability can be triggered from any location with network access to the affected devices. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for industrial control systems and enterprise security deployments where continuous monitoring is essential. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks, and demonstrates how embedded devices can serve as entry points for broader network compromise attempts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical infrastructure, regular firmware updates from Axis to address the underlying memory corruption issue, and network monitoring to detect unusual command patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and exception handling in embedded systems, particularly those operating in security-critical environments. Device administrators should also consider implementing network access controls such as firewalls or access control lists to limit which systems can communicate with the affected cameras, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, regular security assessments of embedded devices within the network perimeter can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked equipment. The remediation process requires careful coordination between network security teams and device administrators to ensure that firmware updates are properly deployed without causing service disruption to critical surveillance operations, while also maintaining proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.