CVE-2020-9528 in Shenzhen Hichip Vision Technology
Summary
by MITRE
Firmware developed by Shenzhen Hichip Vision Technology (V6 through V20), as used by many different vendors in millions of Internet of Things devices, suffers from cryptographic issues that allow remote attackers to access user session data, as demonstrated by eavesdropping on user video/audio streams, capturing credentials, and compromising devices. This affects products marketed under the following brand names: Accfly, Alptop, Anlink, Besdersec, BOAVISION, COOAU, CPVAN, Ctronics, D3D Security, Dericam, Elex System, Elite Security, ENSTER, ePGes, Escam, FLOUREON, GENBOLT, Hongjingtian (HJT), ICAMI, Iegeek, Jecurity, Jennov, KKMoon, LEFTEK, Loosafe, Luowice, Nesuniq, Nettoly, ProElite, QZT, Royallite, SDETER, SV3C, SY2L, Tenvis, ThinkValue, TOMLOV, TPTEK, WGCC, and ZILINK.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9528 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in firmware developed by Shenzhen Hichip Vision Technology affecting multiple IoT device manufacturers. This flaw exists within firmware versions ranging from V6 through V20 and has been integrated into millions of security devices across various brand names including Accfly, Alptop, Anlink, and numerous others. The cryptographic issues stem from improper implementation of encryption algorithms and session management protocols that fundamentally compromise the security posture of these devices. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and encryption mechanisms used in video and audio streaming applications, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system without requiring physical access or advanced technical skills.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through weak cryptographic primitives that fail to properly secure user sessions and data transmission channels. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, intercepting and decrypting video and audio streams in real-time. The flaw allows for credential harvesting through session token manipulation and authentication bypass techniques, effectively granting unauthorized access to device control functions. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-327 which addresses broken cryptographic algorithms and CWE-310 which covers cryptographic issues related to key management. The attack surface extends beyond simple eavesdropping to include full device compromise, as the cryptographic weaknesses enable attackers to establish persistent access to networked IoT devices. The impact is particularly severe given the widespread deployment of these devices across residential and commercial security systems, creating a massive attack surface for threat actors.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of CVE-2020-9528 creates significant risks for both individual users and enterprise security infrastructure. The remote accessibility of this vulnerability means that attackers can target devices from anywhere on the internet without requiring proximity or specialized equipment. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which describes network service scanning and T1071 which covers application layer protocol usage. The vulnerability affects not just individual security cameras but entire networks of interconnected devices that may share common authentication mechanisms or network configurations. Organizations deploying these devices face potential exposure of sensitive video feeds, unauthorized access to private spaces, and the possibility of using compromised devices as entry points for broader network attacks. The scale of impact is amplified by the fact that many of these devices lack robust update mechanisms, meaning that once deployed, they may remain vulnerable indefinitely.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-9528 require immediate action from both device manufacturers and end users. Device owners should implement network segmentation to isolate affected IoT devices from critical systems and establish monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should deploy intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify the traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability and implement network access controls to limit device communication. The most effective long-term solution involves firmware updates from manufacturers, though the widespread nature of affected devices means that many users may never receive patches. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-based encryption for video streams and credential storage, even when using affected devices, to provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure firmware development practices and proper cryptographic implementation, as outlined in NIST SP 800-57 guidelines for cryptographic key management and the OWASP IoT Security Top 10 framework that addresses weak cryptographic implementations in IoT devices. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices and develop incident response procedures specifically addressing IoT device compromise scenarios.