CVE-2021-44398 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. rtmp=stop 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 CVE-2021-44398 represents a denial of service condition affecting the reolink RLC-410W security camera device running firmware version v3.0.0.136_20121102. This issue resides within the cgiserver.cgi component which processes JSON command requests through the HTTP protocol. The device's web server interface fails to properly validate input parameters when processing requests containing the rtmp=stop parameter, creating a critical parsing flaw that can be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system encounters malformed JSON data structures in the command parser, leading to an unexpected system reboot that disrupts normal surveillance operations.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation within the JSON command parser functionality of the camera's web server implementation. When an attacker crafts a specially formatted HTTP request containing the rtmp=stop parameter with malformed JSON data, the system's command processor fails to properly handle the unexpected input structure. This parsing error causes the device to enter an unstable state where it automatically reboots the system, effectively rendering the camera unavailable for its intended security monitoring purposes. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely by any attacker with network access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to compromise the integrity of security monitoring operations. During a successful exploitation, the camera will automatically reboot, potentially creating gaps in surveillance coverage that attackers could exploit. The device becomes temporarily inaccessible for up to several minutes during the reboot cycle, depending on the recovery time required. This disruption can be particularly problematic in critical security environments where continuous monitoring is essential, as it provides attackers with opportunities to conduct unauthorized activities without detection. The vulnerability affects the device's availability and reliability, undermining its core purpose as a security surveillance tool.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the JSON parsing flaw. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and firewall rules to limit access to the camera's web interface to trusted networks only. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests containing malformed JSON data can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns associated with this specific exploit and maintain regular security assessments of networked devices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.