CVE-2018-10987 in Diqee360
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Dongguan Diqee Diqee360 devices. The affected vacuum cleaner suffers from an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability. An authenticated attacker can send a specially crafted UDP packet, and execute commands on the vacuum cleaner as root. The bug is in the function REQUEST_SET_WIFIPASSWD (UDP command 153). A crafted UDP packet runs "/mnt/skyeye/mode_switch.sh %s" with an attacker controlling the %s variable. In some cases, authentication can be achieved with the default password of 888888 for the admin account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-10987 represents a critical authenticated remote code execution flaw in Dongguan Diqee Diqee360 vacuum cleaners, demonstrating the growing security risks associated with IoT devices in smart home environments. This vulnerability resides in the network communication stack of these devices, specifically within the wireless password configuration functionality. The issue manifests through a poorly validated input parameter in the REQUEST_SET_WIFIPASSWD function, which processes UDP command 153, creating a dangerous command injection vector that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only authenticated access to the device, which can be achieved through the default administrative password of 888888, making it particularly concerning for widespread deployment scenarios where users fail to change default credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a precise pattern that leverages command injection principles, specifically targeting the shell execution of the mode_switch.sh script with attacker-controlled parameters. When an authenticated attacker sends a crafted UDP packet containing malicious input, the system processes the command "/mnt/skyeye/mode_switch.sh %s" where the %s variable becomes the attack surface for arbitrary command execution. This design flaw directly maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a classic example of a command injection vulnerability that bypasses normal input validation mechanisms. The root privilege escalation occurs because the mode_switch.sh script executes with elevated permissions, allowing the attacker to gain complete system control over the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple device compromise, as it creates a potential foothold for attackers to establish persistent access within home networks. Once compromised, these vacuum cleaners can serve as relay points for further attacks, including network reconnaissance, data exfiltration, or as part of botnet formations targeting other IoT devices. The vulnerability's presence in IoT devices highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices, particularly in embedded systems where resource constraints often lead to insufficient input validation and sanitization. This flaw demonstrates how default credentials combined with command injection vulnerabilities can create a dangerous combination that undermines the security posture of entire smart home ecosystems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices often operate in unsecured network environments where they may be accessible to unauthorized users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10987 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations and consumers should immediately change default administrative passwords to strong, unique credentials and disable unnecessary network services. Device manufacturers should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all user-controllable parameters, particularly those used in shell command construction. The implementation of principle of least privilege should ensure that scripts execute with minimal required permissions, preventing privilege escalation from command injection attacks. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to IoT devices, while regular firmware updates should be deployed to address known vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Shell Script) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), emphasizing the need for both defensive measures and security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.