CVE-2018-19080 in Opticam i5
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Foscam Opticam i5 devices with System Firmware 1.5.2.11 and Application Firmware 2.21.1.128. The ONVIF devicemgmt SetHostname method allows unauthenticated persistent XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19080 affects Foscam Opticam i5 security cameras running specific firmware versions, representing a critical web application security flaw that undermines the device's integrity and user safety. This issue manifests within the ONVIF device management interface where the SetHostname method fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent cross-site scripting payloads. The vulnerability specifically targets the device management functionality that allows administrators to configure hostnames for network identification purposes, making it a prime target for exploitation within security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the ONVIF devicemgmt service of the affected Foscam devices. When the SetHostname method processes incoming hostname parameters, it fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This vulnerability is classified as persistent XSS under CWE-79, which occurs when malicious scripts are stored on the server and executed whenever the compromised page is accessed by authenticated users. The flaw exists at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into the device's web interface without proper sanitization mechanisms, violating fundamental web security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent footholds within network security infrastructure. An attacker who gains access to the device management interface can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized device configuration changes. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious payload remains active even after the initial attack window, continuously compromising user sessions and potentially allowing for extended surveillance of network activities. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Foscam devices for security monitoring, as it undermines the trustworthiness of the device management interface that security administrators depend upon.
Organizations utilizing affected Foscam Opticam i5 devices should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect their security infrastructure from exploitation. The primary recommended action involves updating to firmware versions that address the XSS vulnerability through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enforced to limit administrative access to these devices, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual hostname configuration changes. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, making it particularly dangerous in environments where device management interfaces are accessible to multiple users. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious XSS payloads, while conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked devices that may be susceptible to similar exploitation techniques.