CVE-2021-44405 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. StartZoomFocus 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
This vulnerability resides within the cgiserver.cgi component of reolink RLC-410W firmware version 3.0.0.136_20121102, specifically targeting the JSON command parser functionality. The flaw manifests when processing HTTP requests containing malformed JSON data, particularly in the StartZoomFocus parameter handling. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow or parsing error condition where the system fails to properly validate input data types, leading to unexpected behavior during command processing. This issue falls under CWE-121, which encompasses buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically relates to CWE-707, concerning improper neutralization of special elements in input data. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, making it accessible through standard HTTP protocols without requiring authentication or specialized access privileges.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing malformed JSON data where the StartZoomFocus parameter is improperly formatted. The system's JSON parser fails to correctly identify that this parameter should be an object type, instead processing it as a scalar value or incorrectly structured data. This misinterpretation causes the embedded web server to crash during parsing operations, resulting in an immediate system reboot. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of CWE-129, which deals with insufficient validation of array indices, and CWE-170, concerning improper null termination. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it can be triggered remotely through standard web traffic, requiring no physical access to the device or specialized tools beyond basic HTTP request construction.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise device availability and network reliability. A successful exploitation results in unauthorized device rebooting, which can disrupt surveillance operations and create denial of service conditions for security monitoring systems. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be leveraged by attackers to create persistent service disruptions. The Reolink RLC-410W device serves as a surveillance camera, and unauthorized rebooting could provide attackers with opportunities to disrupt security monitoring, potentially creating windows for additional attacks or data breaches. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service, and demonstrates how weaknesses in input validation can lead to system instability. The device's inability to properly validate incoming JSON data creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited repeatedly by attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves firmware updates from Reolink that implement proper input validation and JSON parsing procedures, ensuring that all parameters are correctly typed and validated before processing. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices and deploy intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious HTTP request patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. Network administrators should consider implementing rate limiting and access controls to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and parameter validation, which should be enforced through secure coding practices aligned with OWASP Top 10 security requirements. Additionally, regular security assessments and firmware updates should be mandated to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future. Device manufacturers should adopt more robust error handling mechanisms that prevent system crashes from occurring during malformed input processing, implementing defensive programming techniques that maintain system stability even when encountering unexpected data formats.