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CVE Record

CVE-2017-14452: An exploitable buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the PubNub message handler for the "control" channel...

An exploitable buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the PubNub message handler for the "control" channel of Insteon Hub running firmware version 1012. Specially crafted replies received from the PubNub service can cause buffer overflows on a global section overwriting arbitrary data. A strcpy overflows the buffer insteon_pubnub.channel_cc_r, which has a size of 16 bytes. An attacker can send an arbitrarily long "c_r" parameter in order to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker should impersonate PubNub and answer an HTTPS GET request to trigger this vulnerability.

HighCVSS 8.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2017-14452 is a high-severity memory corruption issue in Insteon Hub 2245-222 firmware 1012. A malicious or impersonated PubNub response could overflow a small buffer and potentially affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No source in the bundle says it is actively exploited.

Executive priority

Treat as priority remediation for any still-deployed affected hubs, especially in sensitive physical environments. The attack prerequisites reduce urgency below emergency level, but successful exploitation could compromise device control or availability.

Technical view

The PubNub message handler for the control channel copies an attacker-controlled c_r parameter into insteon_pubnub.channel_cc_r, a 16-byte buffer, using strcpy. Talos describes overflow of a global section with arbitrary data overwrite. Triggering requires impersonating PubNub and responding to an HTTPS GET request.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations using Insteon Hub 2245-222 devices on firmware version 1012. Risk is higher where network conditions could allow PubNub service impersonation or tampering with the hub’s outbound cloud communication path.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector is network-reachable but high complexity and requires low privileges. The source bundle says an attacker should impersonate PubNub and answer an HTTPS GET request. The CVE is not listed as KEV, and no provided source reports active exploitation.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for Insteon Hub 2245-222 firmware 1012. The bundle does not provide CWE mapping, patch details, or proof of active exploitation. Keep analysis constrained to the PubNub control-channel buffer overflow described by Talos and the CVE record.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Insteon Hub 2245-222 devices and identify firmware version 1012.
  • Check Insteon/vendor guidance for supported firmware updates or replacement options.
  • Reduce paths that could let attackers impersonate PubNub to affected hubs.
  • Monitor DNS, TLS, and outbound cloud traffic anomalies involving affected hubs.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm model and firmware directly from device administration or asset records.
  • Verify whether affected hubs still depend on PubNub control-channel communication.
  • Review network logs for unexpected PubNub-related destination or certificate changes.
  • Document remediation status and compensating controls for each affected hub.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2017-14452 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.86Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2017-14452Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
InsteonInsteon Hub 2245-222Firmware version 1012Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.