CVE-2022-30749 in Smart Things
Summary
by MITRE • 06/07/2022
Improper access control vulnerability in Smart Things prior to 1.7.85.25 allows local attackers to add arbitrary smart devices by bypassing login activity.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30749 represents a critical access control flaw within Samsung SmartThings platform versions prior to 1.7.85.25. This weakness stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms that permit unauthorized local users to manipulate the device provisioning process without proper credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects the smart home automation ecosystem where devices are typically required to undergo authenticated enrollment procedures before becoming operational within the network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this flaw manifests through inadequate validation of user privileges during device addition operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage local network access to inject malicious devices into the SmartThings ecosystem without undergoing the standard authentication workflow. This bypass occurs at the application layer where the system fails to properly verify that the device registration request originates from an authorized user account. The flaw essentially allows for privilege escalation within the local network environment where SmartThings is deployed, enabling attackers to expand their control surface without proper authorization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for residential and commercial smart home deployments. Local attackers who gain access to the network can silently introduce unauthorized devices that may remain undetected for extended periods, potentially serving as persistent entry points for further exploitation. The impact extends beyond simple device addition as these unauthorized devices could be configured to relay malicious traffic or act as intermediaries for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented, as local access often implies broader network exposure.
The weakness aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in software systems, specifically focusing on inadequate authorization checks during device management operations. This vulnerability also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts usage and T1566 for social engineering through device manipulation. Organizations deploying SmartThings solutions should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous device provisioning activities and establish proper access controls at both network and application levels. The recommended mitigation involves immediate upgrade to SmartThings version 1.7.85.25 or later, which implements proper authentication checks for device registration processes. Additionally, network administrators should enforce strict access controls and monitor device enrollment activities to detect unauthorized additions to the smart home ecosystem.