CVE-2023-0972 in Z-IP Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 06/21/2023
Description: A vulnerability in SiLabs Z/IP Gateway 7.18.01 and earlier allows an unauthenticated attacker within Z-Wave range to overflow a stack buffer, leading to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0972 represents a critical stack buffer overflow flaw within SiLabs Z/IP Gateway firmware versions 7.18.01 and earlier. This security weakness exists in the gateway's handling of Z-Wave network communications and specifically targets the stack buffer management during packet processing. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who are within physical Z-Wave network range, eliminating the need for network-level authentication or complex attack vectors. The Z-Wave protocol operates in the 868.4 MHz and 908.4 MHz frequency bands in Europe and North America respectively, making this attack surface accessible to anyone with appropriate Z-Wave capable devices within transmission range.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking within the gateway's packet processing routines. When the Z/IP Gateway receives Z-Wave packets containing specially crafted data, the system fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data structures. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which represents a well-known and dangerous class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise. The attack requires minimal privileges since no authentication is necessary, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical access to Z-Wave networks is possible.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for any organization or individual relying on SiLabs Z/IP Gateway for home or commercial automation systems. The attack can result in complete system compromise, allowing unauthorized remote code execution with the privileges of the gateway process. An attacker could potentially gain access to the entire Z-Wave network, enabling them to control connected smart home devices, access network configuration data, or use the compromised gateway as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. The impact extends beyond simple device control since the gateway often serves as a central hub for multiple connected devices, creating a potential escalation path for more extensive network breaches. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python, as the execution of arbitrary code could involve leveraging Python-based automation scripts within the compromised system, though the primary exploitation occurs through direct memory corruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0972 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from SiLabs to address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate Z-Wave networks from critical infrastructure and establish physical access controls to prevent unauthorized individuals from positioning attack devices within transmission range. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous Z-Wave traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough assessments of all Z-Wave enabled devices within their environments, particularly focusing on older firmware versions that may be vulnerable to similar buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices including bounds checking and input validation, which are fundamental requirements in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and ISO/IEC 27034 security standards for application security. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other networked devices and systems.