CVE-2024-7616: Edimax IC-6220DC Firmware RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-7616 Overview

CVE-2024-7616 is a command injection vulnerability affecting Edimax IC-6220DC and IC-5150W IP cameras running firmware versions up to 3.06. The flaw resides in the cgiFormString function within the ipcam_cgi binary. An attacker on the adjacent network can manipulate the host argument to inject arbitrary operating system commands. The vendor was contacted prior to public disclosure but did not respond, leaving devices without an official fix. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers on the same network segment can execute arbitrary commands on affected Edimax IP cameras, leading to full device compromise and potential pivoting into internal networks.

Affected Products

• Edimax IC-6220DC firmware versions up to 3.06
• Edimax IC-5150W firmware versions up to 3.06
• Edimax IC-6220DC and IC-5150W IP camera hardware running affected firmware

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-08-12 - CVE-2024-7616 published to NVD
• 2024-08-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7616

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the ipcam_cgi binary, which handles HTTP CGI requests on the camera's web management interface. The cgiFormString function retrieves the value of the host parameter from an incoming request without applying input sanitization. The retrieved value is later passed to a shell execution routine. An attacker who supplies shell metacharacters within the host argument can break out of the intended command context and append arbitrary operating system commands.

The attack vector is adjacent network, meaning the attacker must reach the camera's management interface across the local network. Low-level privileges on the camera interface are required, but valid camera credentials are commonly weak or default on consumer IoT devices. Successful exploitation yields code execution in the context of the CGI process, which typically runs with elevated privileges on embedded Linux camera firmware.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command [CWE-77]. The cgiFormString routine treats the host parameter as trusted input and forwards it to a system shell invocation. No allowlist validation, escaping, or argument array execution is performed before the command is executed.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over HTTP requests to the ipcam_cgi endpoint. The attacker submits a crafted request containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, backticks, or command substitution syntax within the host parameter. The injected payload executes on the device with the privileges of the CGI handler. For technical proof-of-concept details, refer to the published reports for the IC-5150W and IC-6220DC.

No verified exploit code is published in trusted exploit repositories at this time. Refer to the linked vulnerability reports for technical analysis.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7616

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to ipcam_cgi endpoints containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, `, $()) within the host parameter
• Outbound connections from camera IP addresses to unexpected external hosts, indicating possible reverse shell activity
• Unexpected processes or modified system files on the camera filesystem accessible via firmware analysis

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web server and proxy logs for HTTP requests targeting ipcam_cgi containing suspicious characters in query parameters
• Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that flag command injection patterns in HTTP requests to IoT device management interfaces
• Baseline outbound traffic from camera VLANs and alert on deviations such as new external destinations or non-standard ports

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward network telemetry from IoT segments to a centralized data lake for retention and correlation across device populations
• Monitor DHCP and ARP tables to maintain an accurate inventory of Edimax cameras on the network
• Alert on any administrative HTTP traffic to camera interfaces originating from non-management subnets

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7616

Immediate Actions Required

• Isolate affected Edimax IC-6220DC and IC-5150W cameras on a dedicated VLAN with no inbound or outbound internet access
• Restrict management interface access to a small set of administrative workstations using firewall rules
• Change default and weak credentials on all camera accounts and disable unused accounts
• Audit network logs for prior exploitation attempts referencing the ipcam_cgi endpoint

Patch Information

No vendor patch is currently available. Edimax did not respond to disclosure outreach, and no fixed firmware version has been published as of the NVD last-modified date (2024-08-13). Organizations should track VulDB entry 273986 for updates and consider replacing affected devices with supported alternatives if a patch is not released.

Workarounds

• Place affected cameras behind a reverse proxy that strips or rejects shell metacharacters in request parameters
• Disable the camera's web management interface when not actively in use and restore access only for configuration changes
• Segment IoT devices from corporate, production, and identity infrastructure to limit blast radius if a device is compromised
• Replace end-of-support or unresponsive vendor devices with hardware from vendors providing active security maintenance

# Example firewall rule to restrict camera management access to a single admin host
iptables -A FORWARD -s 192.0.2.10 -d 10.20.30.0/24 -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -d 10.20.30.0/24 -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP