CVE-2018-12669 in L-SERIES HD CAMERA
Summary
by MITRE
SV3C L-SERIES HD CAMERA V2.3.4.2103-S50-NTD-B20170508B and V2.3.4.2103-S50-NTD-B20170823B devices allow remote authenticated users to reset arbitrary accounts via a request to web/cgi-bin/hi3510/param.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12669 affects SV3C L-SERIES HD CAMERA devices running firmware versions V2.3.4.2103-S50-NTD-B20170508B and V2.3.4.2103-S50-NTD-B20170823B. This represents a critical security flaw in network video surveillance equipment that enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate user account permissions through a specific web interface endpoint. The vulnerability resides within the device's web management interface, specifically in the parameter handling mechanism that processes requests to web/cgi-bin/hi3510/param.cgi. This flaw falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, where the system fails to properly verify that the authenticated user has the necessary privileges to perform account reset operations. The attack vector requires only that an adversary possess valid credentials to access the device's web interface, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege verification within the parameter processing module of the camera's web server. When authenticated users submit requests to the param.cgi endpoint, the system fails to properly validate the requested account reset operations against the user's permission levels. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests that can reset arbitrary user accounts, effectively bypassing the normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, where the system grants excessive permissions to authenticated users who should only be able to modify their own account settings. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue under ATT&CK framework technique T1078, specifically targeting legitimate accounts through manipulation of system parameters. The attack requires minimal technical expertise as it leverages existing authentication mechanisms rather than requiring additional exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account compromise, potentially enabling broader system infiltration and persistent access to surveillance networks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can reset administrator accounts, potentially gaining full control over the camera's configuration and video feeds. This capability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on these devices for security monitoring, as compromised cameras could serve as entry points for lateral movement within network infrastructures. The vulnerability affects organizations using industrial surveillance equipment where multiple users may have access to the same device, increasing the attack surface. The exploitation of this flaw can lead to denial of service conditions if legitimate users are unable to access their accounts, while simultaneously providing attackers with the ability to establish persistent backdoors through account reset operations. Network security monitoring systems may not immediately detect this activity as it appears to be legitimate administrative behavior, making the attack more difficult to identify and mitigate.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from the vendor to address the specific parameter validation flaw in the web interface. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit access to these devices to only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs. The implementation of network monitoring rules specifically designed to detect anomalous requests to the param.cgi endpoint can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular account auditing procedures should be established to detect unauthorized account reset activities. Security teams should consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms for administrative access to these devices, as well as regular vulnerability assessments targeting network video surveillance equipment. The mitigation strategy should also include network access control lists that restrict access to the affected web interface endpoints to known good IP addresses only. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically addressing compromised surveillance equipment, as the nature of video surveillance systems creates unique challenges for forensic analysis and recovery operations.