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AIBO Authentication Algorithm Corruption Vulnerability

To: BugTraq
Subject: CERT Advisory CA-2000-69
Date: Mon Jul 10 2000 04:00:16
Author: Jamie Rishaw
Message-ID: <20000710160016.A24976@next.hway.net>


CERT Advisory CA-2000-69
AIBO Authentication Algorithm Corruption Vulnerability 

   Original Release Date: July 10, 2000
   Last Revised: --
   Source: CERT/CC

   A complete revision history is at the end of this file.

Systems affected

   * AIBO ERS-110 Aperios OS
   * AIBO ERS-111 Aperios OS

Overview

   A vulnerability involving the Visual authentication algorithm has
   recently been identified in the Sony, Inc. "AIBO" Entertainment
   Robot.  Owners of AIBO Robots are encouraged to upgrade their
   Aperios DogOS soon as possible.

   The AttackBite() control has a serious vulnerability that allows
   remote intruders within earshot of AIBO to execute arbitrary code.
   Scripts are proliferating the Internet with new routines such as
   PeeOnRug(), ShoeChew(), KillTheCat() and AttackOwnersGenitals().
   The latter, classified by CERT as a "Denial of Service" attack, is
   most vicious, and for this reason CERT encourages immediate patch
   implementation.  Some common cicrumstances under which this
   vulnerability can be exploited are addressed by the Sony patch;
   others are not.

I. Description

   There are at least three distinct vulnerabilities in the ERS-110
   and ERS-111 implementation of the Aperios software.  All of these
   vulnerabilities may be exploited to effect Quicker-Picker-Upper and
   Owner Discomfort attacks with varying degrees of severity.  Owners
   are advised, until patch completion, to guard themselves, and to
   have extra paper towels on hand.

   - The AIBO Sound Controller, when configured to play Britney
   Spears' "Oops, I Did It Again," will cause AIBO to lift a hind leg
   and spontaneously leak battery juice on the floor, simulating a
   urination (female ERS-110 models "squat" during this exploit).

   - The buffer used to hold the variable MyOwner in the function
   process_face() can be overflowed, reverting AIBO into experimental
   AiboPitBull code.  When combined with the Sound Controller's
   Performance Mode signal, unpatched AIBO units can receive arbitrary
   code, and multiple reports of owner emasculation have been reported.

   - (Unverified) Owners who accidentally have left their television
   on late at night have reported incidents of AIBO attacking their
   small children and pets within minutes of the airing of "Tom Vu's
   Real Estate Seminar," The Story of A Vietnamese Immigrant's
   rags-to-riches Infomercial.

   - Two reports have been submitted where a race condition involving
   Tom Vu's Real Estate Seminar and presence of Richard Simmons'
   "Farewell to Fat" have caused AIBO units to "die".  We are still
   investigating this.


II. Impact

   Depending on the version of AIBO, the environment in which it is
   running, and the particular vulnerability that is exploited, a
   remote attacker can cause one or more of the following:

   - The AIBO to attack its owner,
   - The AIBO to wake, walk off its base station and attack
     children/pets,
   - The AIBO to generate Cyber-Body-Fluid and/or Excretion, and/or
   - The AIBO to die.


III. Solution

   Upgrade your version of AIBO Aperios DogOS

  If you are running vulnerable Aperios and cannot upgrade, you are
strongly advised to remove the battery from AIBO's behind and contact
Sony for more assistance.


Appendix A. Vendor Information

Sony, Inc.

  Please see
  http://www.world.sony.com/robot/aperios_vuln.htm


Richard Simmons

  Please see
  http://www.richardsimmons.com/shop/info.idc?id=08-00164

   _________________________________________________________________

   The CERT Coordination Center thanks your Mom and Eva Peron for
   their
   help in developing this advisory.
   _________________________________________________________________

   Author: Jamie Rishaw 
   _________________________________________________________________

   This document is available from:
        http://arpa.com/advisories/CERT-2000-69.html
   _________________________________________________________________

   (This is a spoof, if you haven't gotten it by now)
   _________________________________________________________________

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Revision History
July 10, 2000: Initial Release