CVE-2017-16259 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2017-16259, assigned by Talos, involves buffer overflow vulnerabilities in Insteon Hub firmware version 1012.

Understanding CVE-2017-16259

This CVE identifies stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities in Insteon Hub's PubNub message handler.

What is CVE-2017-16259?

The vulnerability allows attackers to trigger a stack-based buffer overflow by sending crafted commands through the PubNub service, potentially leading to arbitrary data overwriting.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16259

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.5, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16259

The vulnerability is described as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Occurs in the PubNub message handler of Insteon Hub firmware version 1012
Triggered by sending specific commands through the PubNub service
Results in a stack-based buffer overflow in the

cmd s_auth

function

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Insteon
Product: Hub
Affected Version: Not specified

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker must send an authenticated HTTP request
Buffer overflow occurs at memory location 0x9d015430
Buffer overflow triggered by copying data to a 32-byte buffer

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Update Insteon Hub firmware to a patched version
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure Long-Term Security Practices:
Regularly monitor and update firmware for security patches
Conduct security assessments to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities
Patching and Updates:
Apply security patches provided by Insteon promptly