Vulnerability Description
Prior to 2018-04-27, the reprompt feature in Amazon Echo devices could be misused by a custom Alexa skill. The reprompt feature is designed so that if Alexa does not receive an input within 8 seconds, the device can speak a reprompt, then wait an additional 8 seconds for input; if the user still does not respond, the microphone is then turned off. The vulnerability involves empty output-speech reprompts, custom wildcard ("gibberish") input slots, and logging of detected speech. If a maliciously designed skill is installed, an attacker could obtain transcripts of speech not intended for Alexa to process, but simply spoken within the device's hearing range. NOTE: The vendor states "Customer trust is important to us and we take security and privacy seriously. We have put mitigations in place for detecting this type of skill behavior and reject or suppress those skills when we do. Customers do not need to take any action for these mitigations to work.
CVSS Score
LOW
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Echo Show Firmware | < 2018-04-27 |
| Amazon | Echo Show | - |
| Amazon | Echo Plus Firmware | < 2018-04-27 |
| Amazon | Echo Plus | - |
| Amazon | Echo Dot Firmware | < 2018-04-27 |
| Amazon | Echo Dot | - |
| Amazon | Echo Spot Firmware | < 2018-04-27 |
| Amazon | Echo Spot | - |
| Amazon | Echo Firmware | < 2018-04-27 |
| Amazon | Echo | - |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://info.checkmarx.com/hubfs/Amazon_Echo_Research.pdfExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://www.checkmarx.com/2018/04/25/eavesdropping-with-amazon-alexa/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-echo-alexa-skill-spying/Press/Media CoverageThird Party Advisory
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/amazon-alexa-bug-let-hackers-104609600.htmlPress/Media CoverageThird Party Advisory
- https://info.checkmarx.com/hubfs/Amazon_Echo_Research.pdfExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://www.checkmarx.com/2018/04/25/eavesdropping-with-amazon-alexa/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-echo-alexa-skill-spying/Press/Media CoverageThird Party Advisory
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/amazon-alexa-bug-let-hackers-104609600.htmlPress/Media CoverageThird Party Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2018-11567?
CVE-2018-11567 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 3.3 (LOW). Prior to 2018-04-27, the reprompt feature in Amazon Echo devices could be misused by a custom Alexa skill. The reprompt feature is designed so that if Alexa does not receive an input within 8 seconds,...
How severe is CVE-2018-11567?
CVE-2018-11567 has been rated LOW with a CVSS base score of 3.3/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2018-11567?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Amazon Echo Show Firmware, Amazon Echo Show, Amazon Echo Plus Firmware, Amazon Echo Plus, Amazon Echo Dot Firmware.