CVE-2017-16266 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-16266 is a published vulnerability that affects Insteon Hub firmware version 1012, potentially leading to a stack-based buffer overflow when specially crafted commands are sent through the PubNub service.

Understanding CVE-2017-16266

This CVE involves buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the message handler for the "cc" channel of Insteon Hub.

What is CVE-2017-16266?

The vulnerability allows attackers to trigger a stack-based buffer overflow by sending crafted commands through the PubNub service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16266

Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High
CVSS Base Score: 8.5 (High)

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16266

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability resides in the cmd s_b function at memory address 0x9d016530.
Exploitation occurs when the value associated with the

grp

key is copied to a buffer, leading to a buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Insteon
Product: Hub
Firmware Version: 1012

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker sends specially crafted commands through the PubNub service.
An authenticated HTTP request is required to trigger the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-16266 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

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 to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Insteon.
Apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.