CVE-2018-9158 in M1033-W
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on AXIS M1033-W (IP camera) Firmware version 5.40.5.1 devices. They don't employ a suitable mechanism to prevent a DoS attack, which leads to a response time delay. An attacker can use the hping3 tool to perform an IPv4 flood attack, and the services are interrupted from attack start to end.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-9158 affects AXIS M1033-W IP cameras running firmware version 5.40.5.1, representing a critical denial of service weakness that compromises the device's operational integrity. This issue stems from the absence of adequate protective mechanisms against flood attacks, specifically targeting the device's network response handling capabilities. The vulnerability manifests as significant response time delays that ultimately result in complete service interruption during attack execution periods. The affected device demonstrates insufficient resilience against network-based assault vectors, creating a pathway for adversaries to disrupt critical surveillance operations through relatively simple attack methodologies.
The technical flaw resides in the device's failure to implement proper rate limiting or packet filtering mechanisms that would normally mitigate excessive network traffic patterns. When subjected to IPv4 flood attacks using tools like hping3, the camera's network stack becomes overwhelmed and unable to process legitimate requests effectively. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes unchecked resource consumption as a weakness that can lead to denial of service conditions. The device's inability to distinguish between legitimate network traffic and malicious flood patterns demonstrates a fundamental flaw in its traffic management architecture, leaving it susceptible to resource exhaustion attacks that consume processing power and memory resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise security monitoring capabilities in environments where these cameras serve as critical surveillance components. During the attack window, the affected cameras become completely non-responsive to legitimate network requests, effectively rendering the surveillance system ineffective for its intended purpose. This creates a window of vulnerability where security operations may be compromised without detection, as the system appears to be functioning normally while simultaneously being unable to process any meaningful network traffic. The attack duration directly correlates with service interruption, meaning that even brief but sustained attacks can cause significant operational disruption in security-critical deployments.
The attack vector leveraging hping3 demonstrates how relatively simple network tools can be weaponized against embedded network devices lacking proper security hardening. This vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input validation and resource management, where the device fails to implement basic network security controls that would normally be expected in commercial network equipment. Organizations relying on these devices for security operations face significant risk of operational failure during attack scenarios, potentially leaving critical areas unmonitored. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed using readily available network tools, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment in security-sensitive environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing network-level protections including firewall rules that limit incoming traffic to the device, rate limiting mechanisms, and network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices from broader network access. Device administrators should consider updating to firmware versions that address this vulnerability, while network monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate attack activity. The implementation of intrusion detection systems and network behavior analysis tools can help identify and respond to such attacks before they cause complete service interruption. Additionally, network administrators should consider deploying redundant monitoring systems to ensure continued operational capability even when individual devices are compromised by such denial of service attacks.