CVE-2024-52802 in RIOT-OS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2024
RIOT is an operating system for internet of things (IoT) devices. In version 2024.04 and prior, the function `_parse_advertise`, located in `/sys/net/application_layer/dhcpv6/client.c`, has no minimum header length check for `dhcpv6_opt_t` after processing `dhcpv6_msg_t`. This omission could lead to an out-of-bound read, causing system inconsistency. Additionally, the same lack of a header length check is present in the function `_preparse_advertise`, which is called by `_parse_advertise` before handling the request. As of time of publication, no known patched version exists.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2024-52802 affects RIOT OS version 2024.04 and earlier, a popular operating system designed for Internet of Things devices that requires robust security measures due to the sensitive nature of connected embedded systems. This vulnerability resides within the DHCPv6 client implementation, specifically in two related functions that process network advertisements. The core issue manifests as a missing input validation mechanism that fails to verify minimum header length requirements for DHCPv6 options structures, creating a critical security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise system integrity.
The technical flaw occurs in the `_parse_advertise` function located in `/sys/net/application_layer/dhcpv6/client.c` where the code processes `dhcpv6_msg_t` structures without first validating that the subsequent `dhcpv6_opt_t` headers meet minimum length requirements. This absence of length validation creates an out-of-bounds read condition that can occur when the system attempts to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is further compounded by the presence of identical missing validation in the `_preparse_advertise` function, which serves as a preparatory step for the main parsing routine and is called prior to handling the DHCPv6 request. Both functions operate within the context of network protocol processing, where malformed packets could be received from untrusted sources, making this a particularly dangerous weakness in the network stack implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as the out-of-bounds read could potentially expose system inconsistencies that may lead to unpredictable behavior, denial of service conditions, or even remote code execution depending on the specific memory access patterns. The vulnerability affects IoT devices that rely on RIOT OS for network connectivity, potentially compromising entire device fleets that use DHCPv6 for IP address allocation. Attackers could craft specially malformed DHCPv6 advertisements to trigger the vulnerability, causing the system to read invalid memory locations and potentially exposing sensitive data or disrupting normal operations. Given that RIOT OS is commonly deployed in critical infrastructure and embedded systems, the potential for cascading failures or unauthorized access makes this vulnerability particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-129 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses insufficient input validation and improper bounds checking in software implementations. The attack surface aligns with several MITRE ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, T1105 for remote access tools, and T1499.004 for network denial of service. Organizations deploying RIOT OS should immediately implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous DHCPv6 traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The lack of a patched version at the time of publication necessitates defensive measures including firewall rules that restrict DHCPv6 traffic, network intrusion detection systems that monitor for malformed packets, and potentially disabling DHCPv6 functionality if not essential for operations. Additionally, developers should implement comprehensive input validation routines that check header lengths against minimum expected values before processing network protocol structures, following secure coding practices recommended by NIST and ISO/IEC 27045 standards for embedded systems security.