CVE-2023-50927 in Contiki-NG
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2024
Contiki-NG is an open-source, cross-platform operating system for Next-Generation IoT devices. An attacker can trigger out-of-bounds reads in the RPL-Lite implementation of the RPL protocol in the Contiki-NG operating system. This vulnerability is caused by insufficient control of the lengths for DIO and DAO messages, in particular when they contain RPL sub-option headers. The problem has been patched in Contiki-NG 4.9. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should manually apply the code changes in PR #2484.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2023-50927 affects Contiki-NG, a popular open-source operating system designed for next-generation internet of things devices. This security flaw resides within the RPL-Lite implementation of the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks protocol, which is fundamental to IoT network communication. The issue manifests as out-of-bounds read conditions that can be triggered by malicious actors, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of IoT device networks. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of DIO (Data Information Object) and DAO (Destination Advertisement Object) messages that form the backbone of RPL network topology maintenance and route discovery processes.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs due to inadequate validation of message length parameters within RPL sub-option headers. When RPL protocol messages contain malformed or excessively long sub-option fields, the implementation fails to properly bounds-check these values before processing them. This lack of proper input validation creates opportunities for attackers to craft specially crafted RPL messages that cause the system to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw represents a classic buffer over-read vulnerability that can lead to information disclosure, system instability, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the specific implementation details and memory layout of affected systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can disrupt the normal functioning of IoT networks that rely on RPL for routing decisions. When an attacker successfully triggers an out-of-bounds read, it may cause the affected device to crash or behave unpredictably, leading to network partitioning or denial of service conditions that can cascade throughout connected IoT ecosystems. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for critical infrastructure applications where IoT devices form the backbone of monitoring, control, or communication systems, as it could enable adversaries to disrupt network operations or potentially extract sensitive information from device memory.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length parameters, and represents a specific instance of insufficient bounds checking in network protocol implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving protocol analysis and manipulation, potentially enabling adversaries to conduct reconnaissance or establish persistent access within IoT environments. Organizations using Contiki-NG should prioritize upgrading to version 4.9 or later, as this release includes the necessary patches to address the length validation issues in RPL message processing. For those unable to perform immediate upgrades, the recommended remediation involves manually applying the changes outlined in pull request #2484, which implements proper bounds checking mechanisms for RPL sub-option headers to prevent the out-of-bounds read conditions that enable exploitation.