CVE-2021-44358 in RLC-410W
Summary
by MITRE • 01/29/2022
A denial of service vulnerability exists in the cgiserver.cgi JSON command parser functionality of reolink RLC-410W v3.0.0.136_20121102. A specially-crafted HTTP request can lead to a reboot. SetRec param is not object. An attacker can send an HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44358 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the reolink RLC-410W security camera firmware version 3.0.0.136_20121102. This issue manifests in the cgiserver.cgi component which processes JSON command requests, specifically targeting the SetRec parameter handling mechanism. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the JSON parser functionality, creating a scenario where malformed HTTP requests can cause system instability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to induce device reboots without requiring authentication or elevated privileges, effectively rendering the security camera non-functional during attack execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the cgiserver.cgi module receives an HTTP request containing a malformed SetRec parameter within the JSON payload. The parser fails to properly validate that the SetRec parameter is structured as a JSON object, instead processing malformed input that triggers an unexpected system behavior leading to automatic device reboot. This represents a classic buffer overflow or parsing error condition where the system does not adequately handle malformed data structures. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129: Improper Validation of Array Index, as the system fails to validate parameter types before processing, and potentially CWE-704: Incorrect Type Conversion or CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion, depending on the specific implementation details of the JSON parser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to create significant security implications for users relying on continuous monitoring capabilities. When exploited, the vulnerability forces the device into an automatic reboot cycle, effectively eliminating the camera's ability to record or transmit security footage during the downtime. This creates a window of vulnerability where potential intrusions can occur without detection, as the security system becomes temporarily non-operational. The attack surface is particularly broad since the vulnerability can be triggered through simple HTTP requests without requiring any authentication credentials, making it accessible to anyone with network access to the device. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service and T1566.001: Phishing, as it can be exploited through network-based attacks to disrupt security operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from reolink to address the JSON parsing flaw, network segmentation to limit access to the affected device, and implementation of intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP request patterns. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary HTTP services and implementing access controls to restrict direct network access to security cameras. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and parameter type checking in embedded systems, particularly those handling JSON data structures. Security teams must also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar parsing flaws in other networked security devices within their infrastructure.