CVE-2020-10137 in Z-Wave
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2022
Z-Wave devices based on Silicon Labs 700 series chipsets using S2 do not adequately authenticate or encrypt FIND_NODE_IN_RANGE frames, allowing a remote, unauthenticated attacker to inject a FIND_NODE_IN_RANGE frame with an invalid random payload, denying service by blocking the processing of upcoming events.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2020-10137 affects Z-Wave devices utilizing Silicon Labs 700 series chipsets that implement the S2 security protocol. This issue stems from insufficient authentication and encryption mechanisms within the FIND_NODE_IN_RANGE frame processing within the Z-Wave mesh network infrastructure. The flaw specifically targets the security layer that should protect against unauthorized frame injection attempts, creating a critical weakness in the device's defensive posture against remote attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the protocol level where the S2 security framework fails to properly validate incoming FIND_NODE_IN_RANGE frames. These frames are typically used by Z-Wave devices to discover and map network topology by identifying neighboring nodes within range. When an attacker successfully injects a malformed FIND_NODE_IN_RANGE frame, the device processes this invalid frame without proper authentication verification, leading to a denial of service condition that disrupts normal network operations. The vulnerability manifests as the device blocking processing of subsequent legitimate events, effectively creating a persistent disruption in the mesh network functionality.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant threat to Z-Wave ecosystem security and reliability. The remote, unauthenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the physical network boundary, potentially affecting entire residential or commercial Z-Wave installations. The denial of service condition can render connected devices inoperable or severely degraded, impacting smart home automation systems, security systems, and industrial monitoring applications that depend on reliable Z-Wave communications. Network administrators and device manufacturers face the challenge of addressing this vulnerability without disrupting existing network functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weakness in security protocols, and demonstrates how insufficient cryptographic implementation can lead to authentication bypass scenarios. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1499.004 for network disruption, representing both protocol-level exploitation and service denial capabilities. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment across Z-Wave networks.
Mitigation strategies should include firmware updates from device manufacturers that properly implement authentication checks for FIND_NODE_IN_RANGE frames, network segmentation to limit attack surface, and monitoring for anomalous frame patterns within Z-Wave traffic. Organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems specifically designed to identify malformed Z-Wave frames and establish incident response procedures for addressing potential exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers must ensure proper cryptographic implementation in future releases and consider implementing additional frame validation mechanisms beyond the current S2 security framework to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in subsequent product iterations.