CVE-2017-16336 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-16336, assigned by Talos, involves buffer overflow vulnerabilities in Insteon Hub's message handler for the "cc" channel, affecting firmware version 1012.

Understanding CVE-2017-16336

This CVE identifies critical vulnerabilities in Insteon Hub's message handler, potentially leading to stack-based buffer overflows.

What is CVE-2017-16336?

The vulnerability stems from the handling of commands in the "cc" channel of Insteon Hub, allowing attackers to trigger a stack-based buffer overflow by sending specially crafted commands through the PubNub service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16336

The exploitation of these vulnerabilities can result in arbitrary data overwriting due to a stack-based buffer overflow, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16336

Insteon Hub's vulnerability details and impact are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a buffer overflow in the message handler for the "cc" channel of Insteon Hub.
Attackers can exploit this by sending crafted commands through the PubNub service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Insteon
Product: Hub
Affected Version: Firmware version 1012

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by sending authenticated HTTP requests with specially crafted commands.
The buffer overflow occurs in the cmd s_event_var, leading to arbitrary data overwriting.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2017-16336:

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 and penetration testing to identify and remediate weaknesses.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms and access controls.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Insteon.
Apply patches promptly to ensure system security.