CVE-2017-16286 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-16286 is a vulnerability in the PubNub message handler for the "cc" channel of Insteon Hub, allowing for buffer overflow attacks.

Understanding CVE-2017-16286

This CVE involves buffer overflow vulnerabilities in Insteon Hub's PubNub message handler, potentially leading to arbitrary data overwriting.

What is CVE-2017-16286?

The vulnerability in the PubNub message handler for the "cc" channel of Insteon Hub can be exploited by sending crafted commands via the PubNub service, causing a stack-based buffer overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16286

The vulnerability can be triggered by an attacker sending authenticated HTTP requests, potentially leading to arbitrary data overwriting.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16286

Vulnerability Description

Insteon Hub running firmware version 1012 is susceptible to buffer overflow attacks in the PubNub message handler for the "cc" channel.
Crafted commands via PubNub service can trigger a stack-based buffer overflow, overwriting arbitrary data.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Insteon
Product: Hub
Versions: Not specified

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker sends authenticated HTTP request with specifically crafted commands to trigger the vulnerability.
Buffer overflow occurs in the cmd s_time, copying data to a buffer, potentially leading to arbitrary data overwriting.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Insteon Hub firmware to a non-vulnerable 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 patches provided by Insteon to address the buffer overflow vulnerability.