CVE-2018-17770 in Telium 2
Summary
by MITRE
Ingenico Telium 2 POS terminals have a buffer overflow via the RemotePutFile command of the NTPT3 protocol. This is fixed in Telium 2 SDK v9.32.03 patch N.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17770 affects Ingenico Telium 2 point of sale terminals that implement the NTPT3 protocol for remote file operations. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices through a specifically crafted RemotePutFile command. The vulnerability exists within the protocol implementation of the Telium 2 terminal firmware, which fails to properly validate input parameters during file transfer operations. The buffer overflow condition occurs when the terminal receives a malformed RemotePutFile command that exceeds the allocated buffer space, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations and gain unauthorized control over the device's operating system.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers stack-based buffer overflow scenarios. The flaw manifests when the NTPT3 protocol processes file transfer requests without adequate bounds checking on the data length field within the RemotePutFile command structure. Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted packets that cause the terminal to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to code execution and full system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in retail environments where POS terminals are often connected to corporate networks and may contain sensitive transaction data, customer information, and payment card details.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain persistent access to the affected terminals, potentially enabling them to install backdoors, exfiltrate transaction data, or disrupt business operations. The Telium 2 SDK v9.32.03 patch N specifically addresses this issue by implementing proper input validation and buffer size checking mechanisms within the NTPT3 protocol implementation. This patch demonstrates the importance of regular firmware updates in maintaining security posture, particularly for embedded systems that operate in untrusted network environments and handle sensitive financial data.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter and T1071.004 for application layer protocol. The vulnerability also aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK for ICS framework's focus on industrial control system security. Organizations operating Ingenico Telium 2 terminals should prioritize immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patch while implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. Additional mitigations include monitoring network traffic for suspicious NTPT3 protocol activity, implementing network access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of POS terminal configurations to prevent exploitation attempts that could lead to significant financial and reputational damage.