Firmware Not Updateable
The product does not provide its users with the ability to update or patch its firmware to address any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that may be present.
Without the ability to patch or update firmware, consumers will be left vulnerable to exploitation of any known vulnerabilities, or any vulnerabilities that are discovered in the future. This can expose consumers to permanent risk throughout the entire lifetime of the device, which could be years or decades. Some external protective measures and mitigations might be employed to aid in preventing or reducing the risk of malicious attack, but the root weakness cannot be corrected.
Impact: Gain Privileges or Assume IdentityBypass Protection MechanismExecute Unauthorized Code or CommandsDoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If an attacker can identify an exploitable vulnerability in one device that has no means of patching, the attack may be used against an entire class of devices.
ID : DX-145
A refrigerator has an Internet interface for the official purpose of alerting the manufacturer when that refrigerator detects a fault. Because the device is attached to the Internet, the refrigerator is a target for hackers who may wish to use the device other potentially more nefarious purposes.Code Example:
The refrigerator has no means of patching and is hacked becoming a spewer of email spam.
Code Example:
The device automatically patches itself and provides considerable more protection against being hacked.