CVE-2022-23918 in LinkHub Mesh Wifi MS1G
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2022
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the confsrv set_mf_rule functionality of TCL LinkHub Mesh Wifi MS1G_00_01.00_14. A specially-crafted network packet can lead to stack-based buffer overflow. An attacker can send a malicious packet to trigger this vulnerability.This vulnerability leverages the ethAddr field within the protobuf message to cause a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2022
The CVE-2022-23918 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the confsrv component of TCL LinkHub Mesh Wifi MS1G_00_01 firmware version 14. This vulnerability resides in the set_mf_rule functionality which processes network packets destined for the mesh wireless access point. The flaw manifests when the system receives a specially crafted network packet containing malformed data in the ethAddr field of a protobuf message structure. The vulnerability is classified as a stack-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a fixed-length buffer allocated on the stack. This specific implementation flaw allows attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow by overwriting adjacent stack memory locations including return addresses and function parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution capabilities when successfully exploited. An attacker positioned within network range can craft and transmit malicious packets to the affected device, triggering the buffer overflow condition without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The vulnerability affects the core configuration service functionality that manages mesh network rules and device addresses, making it a critical attack vector for compromising the entire mesh network infrastructure. When exploited, the buffer overflow can lead to arbitrary code execution, system crashes, or complete device compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where attackers can leverage standard network reconnaissance techniques to identify vulnerable devices and execute the exploit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-23918 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from TCL to address the underlying buffer overflow implementation issue. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1071.3 for application layer protocols. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous protobuf message patterns and ethAddr field manipulations that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in network protocol implementations, particularly when handling user-supplied data within stack-based memory allocations. Security teams should conduct comprehensive network assessments to identify all instances of the affected TCL LinkHub Mesh Wifi MS1G_00_01 firmware versions and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems capable of identifying and blocking malformed protobuf messages can provide defense-in-depth protection against this specific vulnerability class while maintaining network operational integrity.