Assertion Failure in Matter SDK Causes DoS

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-56362 is a reachable assertion vulnerability in the Matter SDK (connectedhomeip) before version 1.4.2. The issue occurs in the Level Control cluster's periodic server tick logic.

When a MoveToLevel command is sent and immediately followed by a write of OperationMode=2 in the Pump Configuration and Control cluster, the server tick function violates an internal assertion. Specifically, the assertion `currentLevel < maxLevel` fails, causing the affected device or service to crash.

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition. Versions 1.3 and 1.4 (up to commit ab3d5ae) of the Matter SDK are affected.

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Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking if your system is running an affected version of the Matter SDK (connectedhomeip) before version 1.4.2. Specifically, versions 1.3 and 1.4 (commit ab3d5ae) are vulnerable.

To identify the Matter SDK version on your system, you may need to inspect the installed software or firmware. Commands or methods depend on the specific device or system implementation, but general approaches include:

• Check the Matter SDK version in the device's firmware or software repository. For example, if the SDK is installed via a package manager, you might use commands like `dpkg -l | grep connectedhomeip` (Debian-based systems) or `rpm -qa | grep connectedhomeip` (RPM-based systems).
• Inspect the device's logs or configuration files for version information. This may require accessing the device's administrative interface or shell.
• Use network scanning tools to identify devices running the Matter protocol. Tools like Wireshark or specialized IoT scanners can help detect Matter-enabled devices, but they may not directly reveal the SDK version.

To test for the vulnerability, you could attempt to reproduce the issue by sending a MoveToLevel command followed by a write of OperationMode=2 in the Pump Configuration and Control cluster. However, this should only be done in a controlled environment, as it may crash the device.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can impact you in the following ways:

• Denial of Service (DoS): An attacker can remotely crash the affected Matter SDK-based device or service, disrupting its availability.
• Unauthenticated Exploitation: The attack does not require authentication, meaning any attacker with network access to the device can exploit it.
• Impact on Smart Home or IoT Devices: If you use devices running the affected Matter SDK (e.g., smart lights, pumps, or other IoT devices), they may become unresponsive or malfunction due to the crash.
• Potential for Cascading Failures: If the affected device is part of a larger system (e.g., home automation), its failure could disrupt other connected services or devices.

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Compliance Impact

The impact of this vulnerability on compliance with common standards and regulations depends on the context in which the affected Matter SDK is used:

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): If the affected device processes or stores personal data of EU citizens, a denial of service (DoS) attack could lead to availability issues, potentially violating GDPR's requirements for data availability and integrity. However, this vulnerability does not directly involve data exposure or unauthorized access, so the compliance impact may be limited to operational disruptions.
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): If the affected device is used in a healthcare setting (e.g., connected medical devices or systems handling protected health information), a DoS attack could disrupt critical services. HIPAA requires the availability of health information systems, so prolonged downtime could result in non-compliance. However, this depends on whether the device is part of a HIPAA-covered system.
• Other Standards (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST): This vulnerability could violate requirements for system availability and resilience. Organizations following these standards may need to address the vulnerability to maintain compliance, particularly if the affected device is part of a critical infrastructure.

Overall, while this vulnerability does not directly lead to data breaches, it could still pose compliance risks if it disrupts services that are subject to regulatory requirements for availability and reliability.

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Mitigation Strategies

The following steps can help mitigate the vulnerability:

• Upgrade the Matter SDK to version 1.4.2 or later, as this version contains the fix for the reachable assertion vulnerability. Check the official Matter SDK repository or your device manufacturer for updates.
• If upgrading is not immediately possible, restrict network access to Matter-enabled devices to trusted networks only. This can prevent remote exploitation of the vulnerability.
• Monitor device logs for crashes or unexpected behavior, particularly those related to the Level Control or Pump Configuration and Control clusters. This can help identify potential exploitation attempts.
• Apply network-level protections, such as firewalls or intrusion detection systems, to block or alert on suspicious traffic targeting Matter devices.

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