CVE-2018-16595 in Bravia TV
Summary
by MITRE
The Photo Sharing Plus component on Sony Bravia TV through 8.587 devices has a Buffer Overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The CVE-2018-16595 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Photo Sharing Plus component of Sony Bravia television devices running firmware versions up to 8.587. This vulnerability resides in the television's web server implementation and affects the device's ability to process incoming HTTP requests. The flaw manifests when the device receives a specially crafted HTTP request that exceeds the allocated buffer space, leading to potential memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability impacts Sony Bravia TVs with firmware versions up to 8.587, making a significant portion of the installed base susceptible to exploitation. The affected component is part of the web server functionality that handles image sharing requests, indicating that attackers could exploit this through network-based attacks without requiring physical access to the device.
This buffer overflow vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes a stack-based buffer overflow condition where insufficient bounds checking occurs when copying data to a fixed-length buffer. The technical implementation flaw occurs within the web server component's request handling mechanism, where user-supplied data is directly copied into insufficiently sized memory buffers without proper validation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for remote code execution, enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device's operating system. The exploitation requires a remote attacker to send a malformed HTTP request to the device's web server, which then processes the request without proper input sanitization, leading to buffer overflow conditions that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device compromise, as it enables attackers to gain full control over affected Sony Bravia TVs. Once exploited, attackers can access the device's file system, modify system configurations, install malicious software, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other networked devices. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where these devices may be connected to corporate networks. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or network credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with unpatched devices. The affected firmware versions suggest that this vulnerability has been present for an extended period, leaving many devices exposed without proper security updates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16595 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Sony to address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical network segments and consider disabling unnecessary web server functionality when not required. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of web shell commands, and T1068, which involves the exploitation of remote services. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious HTTP requests targeting the affected web server component. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify unpatched devices within the network, and a comprehensive patch management program should be established to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Given the remote exploitability and potential for privilege escalation, organizations should treat this vulnerability as a high-priority security concern requiring immediate remediation.