CVE-2018-17178 in Botvac Connected
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Neato Botvac Connected 2.2.0 devices. They execute unauthenticated manual drive commands (sent to /bin/webserver on port 8081) if they already have an active session. Commands like forward, back, arc-left, arc-right, pivot-left, and pivot-right are executed even though the web socket replies with { "message" : "invalid authorization header" }. Without an active session, commands are still interpreted, but (except for eco-on and eco-off) have no effect, since without active driving, a driving direction does not change anything.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17178 affects Neato Botvac Connected devices running firmware version 2.2.0, presenting a critical authorization bypass flaw that allows unauthorized remote command execution. This issue stems from a fundamental flaw in the device's authentication mechanism where the system processes manual drive commands without proper verification of user credentials, even when the web socket interface explicitly rejects the connection attempt with an "invalid authorization header" message. The vulnerability exists specifically within the communication protocol that operates on port 8081, where the /bin/webserver component handles incoming commands from remote clients.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of incomplete authentication checks, where the system fails to properly validate session state before executing privileged operations. When an attacker sends commands such as forward, back, arc-left, arc-right, pivot-left, or pivot-right to the device, the system executes these commands regardless of the authentication status, creating a dangerous scenario where unauthorized users can control device movement. This flaw operates at the application layer and represents a violation of the principle of least privilege, where commands that should require proper authorization are executed based solely on the presence of an active session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential physical security risks and device compromise. An attacker with network access to the device can remotely control the vacuum cleaner's movement patterns, potentially causing damage to property or creating safety hazards in occupied spaces. The vulnerability affects all manual driving commands except eco-on and eco-off, which are filtered out at the application level, suggesting that the device maintains some level of command validation but fails to properly validate authorization for movement commands. This partial filtering creates a false sense of security while leaving critical operational functions exposed.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1072 for "Software Deployment Tools" and T1210 for "Exploitation of Remote Services." The device's architecture allows for remote command execution without proper credential validation, making it susceptible to exploitation by attackers who can establish network connectivity to the device. Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates from the vendor, network segmentation to isolate the device from general network access, and implementation of firewall rules that restrict access to port 8081 to trusted sources only. Additionally, network monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual command patterns that might indicate unauthorized access attempts, as the vulnerability operates through the existing network infrastructure without requiring special tools or techniques for exploitation.