CVE-2018-20050 in JA-Q1H Wi-Fi Camera
Summary
by MITRE
Mishandling of an empty string on the Jooan JA-Q1H Wi-Fi camera with firmware 21.0.0.91 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash and reboot) via the ONVIF GetStreamUri method and GetVideoEncoderConfigurationOptions method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2020
The CVE-2018-20050 vulnerability affects the Jooan JA-Q1H Wi-Fi camera model with firmware version 21.0.0.91, representing a critical denial of service flaw that stems from improper handling of empty string inputs within the camera's ONVIF implementation. This vulnerability specifically manifests when remote attackers exploit the GetStreamUri and GetVideoEncoderConfigurationOptions methods, which are part of the ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) standard protocol used for interoperability between network video products. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or input validation weakness where the device fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming parameters, particularly when empty string values are passed to these methods.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted ONVIF requests that include empty string parameters in the GetStreamUri and GetVideoEncoderConfigurationOptions method calls. When the camera's firmware processes these malformed requests, it encounters a condition where the empty string input is not properly handled in the internal processing logic, leading to a system crash and subsequent automatic reboot of the device. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input ranges, and CWE-20, which covers improper input validation. The vulnerability represents a failure in the camera's defensive programming practices and lacks proper error handling mechanisms to gracefully process unexpected input values.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to surveillance deployments where continuous camera operation is critical for security monitoring. The remote denial of service capability allows attackers to disrupt surveillance operations without requiring physical access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and industrial environments. The automatic reboot cycle can lead to extended periods of surveillance gaps, potentially allowing malicious actors to exploit the temporary loss of monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566.001, which involves spearphishing with social engineering tactics to gain initial access to network devices.
The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to create persistent availability issues that may go unnoticed for extended periods. Network administrators may struggle to identify the root cause of intermittent camera outages, especially in large deployments where multiple devices are affected. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these devices from anywhere on the network, making it particularly concerning for organizations with limited network segmentation. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual reboot patterns and establish proper access controls to limit ONVIF service exposure to trusted networks only.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20050 should include immediate firmware updates from the vendor when available, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and implementation of proper input validation controls at network boundaries. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary ONVIF services when not actively required and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and defensive programming practices in embedded network devices, particularly those handling real-time video streams where availability is paramount for security operations.