CVE-2023-24822 in RIOT-OS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/24/2023
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, contains a network stack with the ability to process 6LoWPAN frames. Prior to version 2022.10, an attacker can send a crafted frame to the device resulting in a NULL pointer dereference while encoding a 6LoWPAN IPHC header. The NULL pointer dereference causes a hard fault exception, leading to denial of service. Version 2022.10 fixes this issue. As a workaround, apply the patches manually.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-24822 affects RIOT-OS, a popular operating system designed specifically for Internet of Things deployments that implements the 6LoWPAN protocol for low-power wireless networking. This network stack implementation handles the processing of 6LoWPAN frames which are essential for enabling IPv6 connectivity over low-rate wireless personal area networks. The flaw exists in the IPHC (IPv6 Header Compression) header encoding mechanism within the 6LoWPAN implementation, creating a critical security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication requirements. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running RIOT-OS versions prior to 2022.10, making it particularly concerning for deployed IoT ecosystems where upgrading firmware may be challenging or impossible.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation of 6LoWPAN frames during the IPHC header encoding process. When a maliciously crafted 6LoWPAN frame is received by an affected device, the system attempts to process the frame's header compression structure without adequate null pointer checks. This results in a NULL pointer dereference condition that triggers a hard fault exception within the operating system's memory management subsystem. The hard fault exception occurs because the code attempts to access memory through a null pointer reference, which is a classic symptom of improper input validation and memory handling in embedded systems. The specific nature of this flaw places it under CWE-476 which categorizes NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities, representing a fundamental weakness in resource management that leads to system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition that can completely disable affected IoT devices. When the hard fault exception occurs, the device experiences a system crash or reboot, effectively removing it from the network and disrupting its intended functionality. This denial of service can be particularly devastating in IoT deployments where device availability is critical, such as in smart grid infrastructure, industrial monitoring systems, or security surveillance networks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the condition from outside the local network, making it a significant threat to IoT device fleets that may be deployed in unsecured environments. The attack vector requires only the ability to transmit specially crafted 6LoWPAN frames to the device, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical requirements.
The fix implemented in RIOT-OS version 2022.10 addresses this vulnerability by introducing proper null pointer validation checks within the IPHC header encoding routine. This patch ensures that all input parameters are validated before memory access operations are performed, preventing the NULL pointer dereference condition. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a critical weakness in the operating system's defensive capabilities. Organizations managing IoT deployments should prioritize upgrading to version 2022.10 or later, as manual patch application may be required for devices where automated updates are not feasible. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in embedded systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of network stack implementations in resource-constrained environments. Given the widespread adoption of RIOT-OS in IoT deployments, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to the overall security posture of connected device ecosystems that rely on this operating system for their network connectivity and communication functions.