INSTEON Hub 2242-222 - Lack of Web and API Authentication

Trustwave SpiderLabs Security Advisory TWSL2013-023:

Lack of Web and API Authentication Vulnerability in INSTEON Hub



Published: 8/01/13

Version: 1.0



Vendor: INSTEON (http://www.INSTEON.com/)

Product: Hub



Version affected: 2242-222 (model discontinued)



Product description:

Home automation controller for INSTEON and X10 compatible devices such as,

lights, RF deadbolts/door locks, Window/door sensors, thermostats, etc.



Finding 1: Lack of Web and API Authentication

*****Credit: David Bryan of Trustwave SpiderLabs

CVE: CVE-2013-4859

CWE: CWE-306



The INSTEON Hub allows users to control their home automation devices from

their home, and across the Internet.  To allow control of the devices from

the Internet requires that a user create a port forward from the Internet

to the Hub on their home network.  This is to allow direct access from a

users smart phone.  The hub will display a web page that is a legacy of their

previous hardware version of home automation control systems.  This page

allows anonymous access to control any devices connected to the Hub, if the

user has not set a user name and password.  Additionally it reveals the

name of the device, and what city and timezone the device is located.



Because INSTEON does not restrict the user in the naming of their device,

it is possible for users to use their street address in the naming. Having

access to the name of the city, make locating the device trivial using

mapping software to search for the house and street name of the controller,

and potentially identify the location of the device.  The web interface

does not require the user to set authentication or authorization to make

requests to the Hub. This allows an anonymous threat agent access to turn

on and off lights/devices, change temperature settings on thermostats, or

even open electronic door locks.  Additionally a threat agent also has

access to a buffer command, where they can see what lights or devices were

turned on or off. For example, an ON Command is a simple GET request of:





http://A.B.C.D:8001/3?0262XXYYZZ0F11FF=I=3



This turns on the device, and does not require authentication to perform

this action. XXYYZZ is the ID of the INSTEON device.



An OFF Command is a simple GET request of:

http://A.B.C.D:8001/3?0262XXYYZZ0F1100=I=3



This turns the device off, and does not require authentication to perform

this action.



http://A.B.C.D:8001/buffstatus.xml request, without any sort of authentication taking place:



<response><BS>02622026AA0F11FF0602502026AA1E965F2F11FF000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000</BS></response>



>From that response,it is possible to gather what INSTEON devices that were last used.

>From there an attacker can then go back and easily decode the buffer status

message and turn those devices on or off.



Additionally, the device does not have the capability to enable SSL/TLS to

encrypt the data in transit.  This allows any anonymous threat agent to

view, intercept, and replay commands.  It also does not prevent someone

from capturing authentication credentials when the device is accessed via

the Internet.





Remediation Steps:

The vendor has recalled and discontinued affected units.  Trustwave

SpiderLabs has confirmed that Model 2422-222R is not affected by this

vulnerability.



Vendor Communication Timeline:

12/27/12 - Vulnerability disclosed to vendor

03/16/13 - Vendor emails upgrade notice

07/17/13 - Advisory disclosed to vendor

08/01/13 - Advisory published



References

1. http://www.INSTEON.com/support.html



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