CVE-2000-0418 in DSL Router
Summary
by MITRE
The Cayman 3220-H DSL router allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via oversized ICMP echo (ping) requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2025
The CVE-2000-0418 vulnerability affects the Cayman 3220-H DSL router, representing a classic denial of service flaw that exploits improper handling of network protocol messages. This vulnerability specifically targets the router's ICMP echo request processing mechanism, which is fundamental to network diagnostics and connectivity verification. The issue stems from the router's failure to properly validate incoming ICMP packet sizes, creating a condition where malicious actors can exploit this weakness to disrupt network services. The vulnerability operates at the network layer of the OSI model, specifically impacting the Internet Control Message Protocol implementation within the router's firmware. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in input validation where the system fails to properly handle malformed or oversized network packets, making it susceptible to resource exhaustion attacks.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker sends oversized ICMP echo requests to the router's management interface or network address. These requests exceed the standard packet size limits that normal network traffic would observe, causing the router's processing mechanisms to either crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper bounds checking and input sanitization within the router's network stack implementation. When the router attempts to process these oversized packets, it consumes excessive memory resources or processing cycles, ultimately leading to service disruption. This type of attack falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks as defined by the ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the availability aspect of network security. The attack vector requires no authentication and can be executed from any location on the network, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who rely on consistent router availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting critical network infrastructure that depends on the router's stable operation. Organizations relying on the Cayman 3220-H router for internet connectivity may experience complete network outages during an attack, affecting business operations and potentially leading to significant financial losses. The vulnerability affects not only the router's ability to process legitimate network traffic but also its capacity to maintain stable connections to upstream networks. Network administrators may find it difficult to diagnose the issue as the router appears to be functioning normally until the denial of service occurs, making the attack particularly insidious. The attack can be easily automated and executed by anyone with network access, meaning that even small organizations with limited security resources are vulnerable to exploitation. This type of vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in embedded system security design where proper error handling and resource management are not implemented.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0418 should focus on implementing network-level protections and firmware updates where available. Network administrators should configure firewalls to filter oversized ICMP packets and restrict ICMP traffic to authorized sources only, as outlined in various network security best practices. The implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify anomalous ICMP traffic patterns that may indicate an ongoing attack. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms to prevent excessive ICMP processing on network devices. According to industry standards such as NIST SP 800-41, network administrators should regularly update firmware and apply security patches to address known vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in embedded systems, as recommended by the CWE guidelines for secure coding practices. Additionally, network segmentation and proper access control measures can limit the impact of such attacks by preventing unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure components.