CVE-2019-10886 in Smart TV
Summary
by MITRE
An incorrect access control exists in the Sony Photo Sharing Plus application in the firmware before PKG6.5629 version (for the X7500D TV and other applicable TVs). This vulnerability allows an attacker to read arbitrary files without authentication over HTTP when Photo Sharing Plus application is running. This may allow an attacker to browse a particular directory (e.g. images) inside the private network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-10886 represents a critical access control flaw within the Sony Photo Sharing Plus application firmware versions prior to PKG6.5629. This issue specifically affects certain Sony television models including the X7500D and other applicable devices. The flaw resides in the application's handling of HTTP requests and demonstrates a fundamental failure in authentication mechanisms that should have prevented unauthorized access to sensitive file systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the context of the device's network services, making it exploitable from within the same private network where the television operates.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the Photo Sharing Plus application's HTTP server component. When the application is running, it exposes an HTTP interface that fails to properly verify the identity of requesting clients before granting access to file system resources. This misconfiguration creates a path where any attacker within the same network segment can construct HTTP requests to access arbitrary files without providing any form of authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically allows for directory traversal and file reading operations that should normally be restricted to authorized users or system processes. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in access control mechanisms, specifically CWE-284 Access Control Bypass.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to browse directories containing private user content such as images stored on the television device. This capability enables unauthorized access to personal media collections, potentially exposing sensitive user data including photographs, videos, and other private content that users might reasonably expect to be protected. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only network access to the affected device and knowledge of the HTTP service port, making it particularly dangerous in residential and enterprise network environments where television devices are often connected to internal networks without proper segmentation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1074 Data Staged, as it allows for network reconnaissance and unauthorized data access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates to PKG6.5629 or later versions that address the access control bypass issue. Network administrators should also implement proper network segmentation to isolate entertainment devices from critical systems and establish firewall rules that restrict access to the affected HTTP ports. Additionally, disabling the Photo Sharing Plus application when not actively needed provides an effective temporary workaround. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper authentication mechanisms in embedded systems, particularly those that expose network services. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their connected devices and maintain updated inventories of all network-accessible services to prevent similar issues from affecting their security posture.