CVE-2024-52802
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in RIOT OS allows attackers to trigger out-of-bounds memory reads by sending malformed DHCPv6 packets to IoT devices. The lack of header length validation in DHCPv6 client functions could lead to system instability or crashes. All IoT devices running RIOT OS versions 2024.04 and earlier with DHCPv6 client enabled are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- RIOT OS
📦 What is this software?
Riot by Riot Os
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
System crash or instability leading to denial of service, potentially allowing further exploitation through memory corruption.
Likely Case
System instability or crashes when processing malformed DHCPv6 packets, causing IoT device malfunction.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if DHCPv6 client is disabled or devices are behind network filtering.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending specially crafted DHCPv6 packets to vulnerable devices. No public exploit code available at time of advisory.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not available
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/RIOT-OS/RIOT/security/advisories/GHSA-xgv3-pcq6-qmrg
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
No official patch available. Monitor RIOT OS repository for updates. When patch is released, update RIOT OS source code and rebuild affected IoT device firmware.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable DHCPv6 Client
allDisable DHCPv6 client functionality in RIOT OS configuration to prevent exploitation.
Modify RIOT OS configuration to disable DHCPv6 client (specific commands depend on device configuration)
Network Filtering
linux/windowsBlock DHCPv6 traffic to vulnerable devices at network perimeter.
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 546 -j DROP (Linux)
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Block DHCPv6" dir=in action=block protocol=UDP localport=546 (Windows)
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate vulnerable IoT devices on separate network segments with strict access controls.
- Implement network monitoring for abnormal DHCPv6 traffic patterns to vulnerable devices.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check RIOT OS version: if running 2024.04 or earlier with DHCPv6 client enabled, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
Check RIOT OS build version in device firmware or configuration files.Verify Fix Applied:
When patch becomes available, verify RIOT OS version is newer than 2024.04 and test DHCPv6 functionality.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- System crashes or reboots after DHCPv6 traffic
- Memory access violation errors in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual DHCPv6 packet patterns to IoT devices
- DHCPv6 packets with malformed headers
SIEM Query:
source="network" AND protocol="DHCPv6" AND (packet_size<min_expected OR header_length<expected)