CVE-2018-20299 in Smart Home Camera
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in several Bosch Smart Home cameras (360 degree indoor camera and Eyes outdoor camera) with firmware before 6.52.4. A malicious client could potentially succeed in the unauthorized execution of code on the device via the network interface, because there is a buffer overflow in the RCP+ parser of the web server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2020
This vulnerability affects Bosch Smart Home cameras including the 360 degree indoor camera and Eyes outdoor camera models, specifically when running firmware versions prior to 6.52.4. The issue stems from a buffer overflow condition within the RCP+ parser component of the web server implementation, creating a critical security exposure that allows remote code execution. The vulnerability exists in the network interface handling mechanism where insufficient input validation occurs during parsing of RCP+ protocol messages, enabling attackers to craft malicious payloads that exceed buffer boundaries and overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical flaw manifests as a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that falls under CWE-121, which describes conditions where data written to a buffer exceeds the buffer's allocated size. This particular implementation flaw occurs within the web server's RCP+ protocol parser, which processes incoming network requests without proper bounds checking. The RCP+ protocol is used for communication between the camera's web interface and client applications, making this vulnerability exploitable through standard network connections. Attackers can leverage this weakness by sending specially crafted requests that trigger the buffer overflow, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with unauthorized code execution capabilities on affected devices. Once exploited, attackers can gain full control over the camera's functionality, potentially enabling them to access live video feeds, modify device settings, capture additional footage, or even use the device as a pivot point for further attacks within the local network. The vulnerability affects both indoor and outdoor camera models, expanding the potential attack surface significantly. Given that these devices are typically deployed in residential and commercial environments, the compromise of such devices could lead to privacy violations, surveillance abuse, and potential network infiltration. The attack vector requires only network connectivity to the affected devices, making exploitation relatively straightforward for skilled adversaries.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to version 6.52.4 or later, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow condition in the RCP+ parser. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strong network access controls, and regularly monitoring device logs for signs of unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers legitimate credentials and software exploitation, as well as T1071.005 for application layer protocol usage. Security teams should also consider implementing zero-trust network principles where all network traffic is validated and authenticated regardless of its origin, particularly for IoT devices that may not implement robust security controls by default.