CVE-2020-24214 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An issue was discovered in the box application on HiSilicon based IPTV/H.264/H.265 video encoders. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause a buffer overflow, leading to an application crash and temporary device unavailability.

Understanding CVE-2020-24214

This CVE involves a vulnerability in HiSilicon video encoders that can be triggered by sending a crafted unauthenticated RTSP request, resulting in a denial of service condition.

What is CVE-2020-24214?

The vulnerability allows attackers to disrupt the video encoding and streaming functionality of HiSilicon-based devices by causing a buffer overflow through malicious RTSP requests.

The Impact of CVE-2020-24214

Attackers can remotely crash the application on affected devices, rendering them unable to perform video encoding and streaming for up to a minute until an automatic reboot occurs.
By sending malicious requests periodically, attackers can effectively disable the device.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-24214

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in HiSilicon video encoders allows for a buffer overflow when processing unauthenticated RTSP requests, leading to a crash and temporary device unavailability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by sending crafted unauthenticated RTSP requests to trigger a buffer overflow, causing the application to crash and the device to become temporarily unavailable.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-24214 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable devices.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious RTSP requests.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware on devices.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators about the risks of unauthenticated requests and the importance of timely updates.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from HiSilicon and relevant authorities.
Apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.