CVE-2021-44384 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. SetPtzTattern 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 CVE-2021-44384 vulnerability represents a critical denial of service condition within the reolink RLC-410W security camera firmware version 3.0.0.136_20121102. This issue manifests in the cgiserver.cgi JSON command parser functionality where improper input validation allows malicious actors to exploit a specific parameter handling flaw. The vulnerability specifically targets the SetPtzTattern parameter which is expected to be an object but receives malformed input, causing the system to crash and reboot. This represents a fundamental failure in input sanitization and parameter validation that directly impacts the availability of the networked security device. The vulnerability resides in the web server component of the camera's firmware, making it accessible through standard HTTP protocols and potentially exploitable from remote network locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted HTTP request that manipulates the JSON parsing mechanism within the cgiserver.cgi component. When the system processes a request containing an improperly formatted SetPtzTattern parameter that is not an object as expected, the JSON parser fails to handle the malformed input gracefully. This parsing failure triggers an unhandled exception that cascades through the system's memory management and process execution flows, ultimately resulting in an automatic system reboot. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, which specifically addresses the lack of proper validation for inputs that are processed by applications. This weakness directly enables the denial of service condition by allowing attackers to disrupt the normal operation of the security camera.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-44384 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise security monitoring capabilities within enterprise and residential environments. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the security camera becomes temporarily unavailable for its primary function of providing surveillance coverage, creating windows of opportunity for unauthorized access to protected areas. The automatic reboot process also introduces potential data loss or configuration reset issues that could further impact system reliability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations that rely on continuous surveillance monitoring, as the disruption could occur without detection and potentially during critical security events. The exploitability of this vulnerability through standard HTTP requests means that it can be triggered from any network location with access to the camera's web interface, making it a significant threat to networked security infrastructure. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, which targets the availability of endpoint systems through various mechanisms including firmware-level disruptions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-44384 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from reolink to address the underlying parsing flaw in the cgiserver.cgi component. Network administrators should implement strict access controls limiting HTTP access to the camera's web interface to trusted IP addresses only, reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Additional protective measures include deploying network segmentation to isolate security cameras from critical network segments, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed HTTP requests targeting the specific vulnerability pattern, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unexpected device reboots. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary web services and implementing automated backup procedures to ensure rapid recovery from any exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling in embedded systems, particularly those operating in security-critical environments where availability is paramount to effective surveillance operations.