CVE-2021-44366 in RLC-410W
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2022
Multiple denial of service vulnerabilities exist 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. An attacker can send an HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2022
The CVE-2021-44366 vulnerability represents a critical denial of service weakness within the Reolink RLC-410W security camera firmware version 3.0.0.136_20121102. This issue specifically targets the cgiserver.cgi component responsible for parsing JSON commands, demonstrating how seemingly benign web interface functionality can become a vector for system disruption. The vulnerability resides in the device's HTTP request handling mechanism, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to craft specific requests that cause the device to reboot automatically.
The technical flaw manifests through the JSON command parser's inadequate handling of malformed or specially-crafted HTTP requests. When the cgiserver.cgi component receives a request containing maliciously formatted JSON data, it fails to properly validate the input structure, leading to an uncontrolled state that results in device reboot. This represents a classic buffer overflow or parsing error condition where the application does not adequately sanitize or reject malformed input before processing. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically within the web server component that handles CGI requests, making it accessible through standard HTTP protocols without requiring elevated privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to security infrastructure deployments where Reolink cameras are used for surveillance and monitoring. The remote trigger capability allows attackers to repeatedly reboot devices, potentially creating service interruptions that could go unnoticed for extended periods. In security-critical environments, such as industrial facilities, financial institutions, or healthcare organizations, this denial of service condition could mask other security incidents or create windows of opportunity for more sophisticated attacks. The automatic reboot behavior also complicates forensic analysis and system monitoring, as the device may not log the incident properly before restarting.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected devices, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP request patterns, and applying firmware updates from Reolink when available. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing access control lists to restrict HTTP access to only trusted management systems and establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized reboot events. The incident underscores the importance of validating all external input and implementing robust error handling mechanisms in embedded web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities in security infrastructure devices.