CVE-2024-22768 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Hitron Systems DVR model HVR-4781, specifically affecting version 1.03. The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20), which allows an attacker to exploit the device when it is configured with default administrative credentials. The vulnerability enables an attacker to cause a network attack, potentially disrupting network availability. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.4, indicating a high impact primarily on availability (A:H) with no impact on confidentiality or integrity. The attack vector is adjacent network (AV:A), meaning the attacker must have access to the local network or a network segment reachable by the device. No privileges or user interaction are required to exploit this vulnerability, and the scope is changed (S:C), suggesting that the attack could affect other components or systems beyond the vulnerable device itself. The lack of a patch or exploit in the wild at the time of publication suggests that mitigation is critical to prevent future exploitation. The vulnerability arises from the device's failure to properly validate input parameters, which combined with the use of default admin credentials, allows attackers to leverage the device to launch network attacks, potentially as part of a larger botnet or denial-of-service campaign. This vulnerability highlights the risks associated with default credentials and insufficient input validation in embedded network devices such as DVRs used in surveillance and security systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially to entities relying on Hitron Systems DVR HVR-4781 devices for security surveillance and network monitoring. Exploitation could lead to network disruptions, impacting availability of critical surveillance infrastructure, which is vital for physical security in sectors like transportation, government facilities, and critical infrastructure. The ability to cause network attacks from compromised DVRs could also facilitate lateral movement or be leveraged in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against organizational networks or external targets, amplifying the threat landscape. Given the adjacency requirement, organizations with these devices exposed on internal or segmented networks are at risk. The use of default credentials is a common misconfiguration, increasing the likelihood of exploitation. This vulnerability could also affect managed service providers and integrators who deploy these DVRs across multiple client sites, potentially leading to widespread impact. Additionally, disruption of surveillance systems could have compliance and regulatory implications under European data protection and critical infrastructure security frameworks.

1. Immediately change default administrative credentials on all Hitron Systems DVR HVR-4781 devices to strong, unique passwords to prevent unauthorized access. 2. Isolate DVR devices on segmented networks with strict access controls to limit exposure to adjacent network attackers. 3. Implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns originating from DVR devices that could indicate exploitation attempts or network attacks. 4. Disable any unnecessary network services or remote management features on the DVRs to reduce the attack surface. 5. Regularly audit device configurations and firmware versions to identify vulnerable devices and apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available. 6. Employ network-level protections such as intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to detect and block malicious traffic associated with exploitation attempts. 7. Educate staff responsible for device deployment and maintenance about the risks of default credentials and the importance of input validation vulnerabilities. 8. Consider replacing or upgrading devices that cannot be patched or secured adequately to reduce long-term risk.