CVE-2018-3878 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2018-3878 article provides insights into buffer overflow vulnerabilities in Samsung SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250 devices with firmware version 0.20.17.

Understanding CVE-2018-3878

This CVE involves buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the credentials handler of Samsung SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250 devices with firmware version 0.20.17.

What is CVE-2018-3878?

The credentials handler of Samsung SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250 devices with firmware version 0.20.17 contains buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the HTTP server of the video-core component. These vulnerabilities arise due to incorrect handling of certain fields within a user-controlled JSON payload, leading to a stack-based buffer overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2018-3878

The impact of CVE-2018-3878 is critical, with a CVSS base score of 9.9. The vulnerabilities can result in high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, with low privileges required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-3878

This section delves into the technical aspects of CVE-2018-3878.

Vulnerability Description

Multiple buffer overflow vulnerabilities exist in the credentials handler of the video-core's HTTP server in Samsung SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250 devices with firmware version 0.20.17. The issue stems from incorrect extraction of fields from a user-controlled JSON payload, causing a stack-based buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250
Vendor: Samsung
Firmware Version: 0.20.17

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerabilities can be exploited by sending an arbitrarily long "region" value, triggering a buffer overflow in the stack due to a strncpy operation exceeding the 16-byte destination buffer capacity.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-3878 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the firmware to a patched version provided by Samsung.
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates released by Samsung to address the buffer overflow vulnerabilities in SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250 devices.