CVE-2017-20215: FLIR Thermal Camera RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2017-20215 Overview

CVE-2017-20215 is an authenticated OS command injection vulnerability affecting FLIR Thermal Camera FC-S/PT firmware version 8.0.0.64. This firmware vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands with root privileges by exploiting insufficient input validation in the camera's web interface. Once authenticated, attackers can inject malicious shell commands through unvalidated input parameters, potentially gaining complete control over the thermal camera system.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can achieve root-level command execution on affected FLIR thermal cameras, enabling complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential use as a pivot point for further network attacks.

Affected Products

• FLIR Thermal Camera FC-S firmware version 8.0.0.64
• FLIR Thermal Camera FC-PT firmware version 8.0.0.64
• FLIR FC-S/PT Series with vulnerable firmware

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-08 - CVE-2017-20215 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2017-20215

Vulnerability Analysis

This command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) exists in the FLIR FC-S/PT thermal camera firmware where user-supplied input is passed directly to operating system shell commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability requires authentication, meaning an attacker must first obtain valid credentials before exploitation. However, once authenticated, the attacker can leverage the command injection to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the underlying Linux-based operating system.

The attack can be conducted remotely over the network, making it particularly dangerous for cameras exposed to the internet or accessible from untrusted network segments. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control over the device's confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2017-20215 is improper input validation in the camera's web interface. When processing certain HTTP parameters, the firmware fails to sanitize special shell characters and metacharacters before incorporating user input into system commands. This allows attackers to break out of the intended command context and inject their own commands, which are then executed with the privileges of the web server process—typically running as root on embedded devices.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires authenticated access to the camera's web management interface. An attacker would first need to obtain valid credentials through default credentials, credential theft, or other means. Once authenticated, the attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing shell metacharacters (such as ;, |, &&, or backticks) within vulnerable input parameters. These metacharacters allow the attacker to chain additional commands or substitute command output, resulting in arbitrary command execution.

The vulnerability allows chaining multiple commands together, enabling attackers to download additional payloads, establish reverse shells, modify camera configurations, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the device.

Detection Methods for CVE-2017-20215

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to the camera's web interface containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &&, `, $())
• Unexpected outbound network connections from the thermal camera to unknown external hosts
• New or modified files in the camera's filesystem, particularly in writable directories like /tmp
• Unusual processes running on the camera that are not part of normal firmware operation
• Authentication logs showing successful logins followed by suspicious activity

Detection Strategies

• Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify HTTP requests containing command injection payloads targeting FLIR camera endpoints
• Monitor for anomalous network traffic patterns from thermal camera devices, including unexpected DNS queries or connections to unfamiliar IP addresses
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing shell metacharacters in parameters sent to camera management interfaces
• Review camera authentication logs for unusual login patterns or access from unexpected source IPs

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline network behavior for FLIR thermal cameras and alert on deviations
• Configure SIEM rules to correlate authentication events with subsequent suspicious HTTP requests
• Implement network segmentation to isolate IoT devices like thermal cameras from critical infrastructure
• Regularly audit firmware versions across deployed FLIR cameras to identify vulnerable installations

How to Mitigate CVE-2017-20215

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all FLIR FC-S/PT thermal cameras running firmware version 8.0.0.64 in your environment
• Restrict network access to affected cameras using firewall rules, limiting connections to trusted management hosts only
• Change default credentials immediately if they have not been modified
• Monitor affected devices for signs of compromise while awaiting firmware updates
• Consider temporarily isolating vulnerable cameras from the network if they are not operationally critical

Patch Information

Consult FLIR's official security resources for firmware updates that address this vulnerability. The FLIR Security Blog Post provides additional details regarding the vendor's response. Additional technical details are available from Zero Science Vulnerability ZSL-2017-5437 and Exploit-DB #42788.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network segmentation to isolate thermal cameras on a dedicated VLAN with limited internet access
• Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall in front of camera web interfaces to filter malicious input
• Enforce strong, unique credentials for all camera accounts and implement multi-factor authentication where supported
• Disable remote management access if not required and manage cameras only through a secured local network
• Monitor and log all access to camera management interfaces for forensic purposes

# Example: Restrict network access to FLIR camera using iptables
# Allow management access only from trusted admin subnet
iptables -A INPUT -s 10.0.1.0/24 -d <camera_ip> -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -s 10.0.1.0/24 -d <camera_ip> -p tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -d <camera_ip> -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -d <camera_ip> -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP