CVE-2017-16296 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-16296 is a vulnerability affecting Insteon Hub firmware version 1012, leading to buffer overflow vulnerabilities in its PubNub message handler. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating commands through the PubNub service, triggering a stack-based buffer overflow.

Understanding CVE-2017-16296

This CVE involves multiple buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the Insteon Hub's PubNub message handler.

What is CVE-2017-16296?

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

The Impact of CVE-2017-16296

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability all being significantly affected.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16296

The technical details of this CVE provide insight into the vulnerability's specifics.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability occurs in the

cmd s_schd

function, where input longer than 32 bytes can lead to a buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Insteon
Product: Hub
Versions: Not specified

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Base Score: 8.5 (High)
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-16296 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Insteon Hub firmware to the latest version.
Implement network security measures to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit network traffic for unusual activities.
Conduct security training for users to recognize and report suspicious behavior.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Insteon.