CVE-2018-10660 in IP Camera
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in multiple models of Axis IP Cameras. There is Shell Command Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10660 represents a critical shell command injection flaw affecting multiple Axis IP camera models, specifically impacting the network video surveillance equipment manufactured by Axis Communications. This vulnerability resides within the web interface of the affected devices, where user-supplied input is inadequately validated and sanitized before being incorporated into system commands. The flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary shell commands on the affected camera devices with the privileges of the web server process, potentially compromising the entire surveillance infrastructure. The issue stems from improper input handling mechanisms that fail to adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted by the underlying shell, creating an avenue for malicious command execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the web-based management interface of the IP cameras, where parameters passed to system commands are not properly sanitized. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters are interpreted by the system shell rather than treated as literal input. This allows for command chaining and arbitrary code execution, potentially enabling attackers to gain full control over the device's operating system. The vulnerability affects multiple Axis camera models including but not limited to the AXIS 210, AXIS 212, and AXIS 214 series, with various firmware versions being susceptible to exploitation. This represents a classic shell injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses the improper handling of system commands where user-supplied data is directly passed to shell execution functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised cameras can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain root-level access to the device, allowing for complete system compromise including the ability to modify camera settings, access stored video footage, disable security features, or even use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning in security-critical environments where IP cameras are deployed for surveillance purposes, as these devices often contain sensitive information and may be located in physically accessible areas. The vulnerability also enables potential data exfiltration, device misconfiguration, and can be leveraged for persistent access through the installation of backdoors or other malicious payloads. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries use shell commands to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10660 require immediate attention and a multi-layered approach to security. The primary remediation involves applying the vendor-provided firmware updates that address the input validation flaws in the web interface components. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to IP camera devices, ensuring that only authorized personnel can reach the management interfaces. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and regularly monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network access control lists should be configured to restrict access to camera management ports, and the principle of least privilege should be applied to all user accounts with access to the devices. Security monitoring should include checking for unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and other security standards, emphasizing that all user-provided data must be treated as potentially malicious and properly sanitized before any system interaction occurs.