CVE-2020-10064
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via improper input validation in IEEE 802.15.4 frame processing in Zephyr RTOS. It affects Zephyr versions >= v1.14.2 and >= v2.2.0, potentially impacting IoT devices using this real-time operating system.
💻 Affected Systems
- Zephyr RTOS
📦 What is this software?
Zephyr by Zephyrproject
Zephyr by Zephyrproject
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete device compromise, data exfiltration, or device bricking
Likely Case
Denial of service causing device crashes or instability in IoT networks
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and input validation controls
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending specially crafted IEEE 802.15.4 frames to vulnerable devices
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in Zephyr v2.3.0 and later versions
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-3gvq-h42f-v3c7
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Zephyr RTOS to version 2.3.0 or later
2. Rebuild and redeploy firmware to affected devices
3. Verify IEEE 802.15.4 stack functionality post-update
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allIsolate IEEE 802.15.4 networks from untrusted networks
Input Validation Filtering
allImplement additional frame validation at network boundaries
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls for IEEE 802.15.4 interfaces
- Deploy network monitoring for anomalous frame patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Zephyr version and verify if IEEE 802.15.4 stack is enabled in configurationCheck Version:
Check Zephyr version in build configuration or device firmwareVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm Zephyr version is >= 2.3.0 and test IEEE 802.15.4 functionality📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- IEEE 802.15.4 stack crashes
- Memory corruption errors
- Unexpected device reboots
Network Indicators:
- Malformed IEEE 802.15.4 frames
- Unusual frame sizes or patterns
SIEM Query:
Search for: 'zephyr crash' OR 'ieee802154 error' OR 'buffer overflow' in device logs