CVE-2002-1597 in SN 5420 Storage Router
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco SN 5420 Storage Router 1.1(5) and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (halt) via a fragmented packet to the Gigabit interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The Cisco SN 5420 Storage Router represents a critical network infrastructure device designed for storage area network connectivity and data routing operations. This particular vulnerability affects versions 1.1(5) and earlier of the device's software implementation, creating a significant security weakness that can be exploited remotely. The affected system operates within enterprise storage environments where uninterrupted network connectivity is paramount for data availability and business continuity. The vulnerability specifically targets the Gigabit interface, which serves as a primary communication channel for high-speed data transfer between storage devices and network components. This interface typically handles critical storage protocols and network traffic that maintains the operational integrity of enterprise storage networks.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of fragmented network packets received at the Gigabit interface. When a remote attacker crafts and transmits specially formatted fragmented packets to this interface, the device fails to properly process these packets and subsequently halts its operation entirely. This behavior constitutes a denial of service condition where the storage router becomes completely non-operational and requires manual intervention to restore functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and packet processing routines within the router's network stack implementation. The device lacks proper bounds checking and state management for fragmented packet reassembly, allowing malicious packet sequences to trigger system termination. This flaw operates at the network protocol level and affects the device's ability to maintain continuous operation under normal network conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire storage network infrastructures. Organizations relying on the Cisco SN 5420 for storage routing may experience complete network outages when attackers exploit this weakness, leading to data access interruptions and potential business disruption. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or local credentials. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network security controls may not fully isolate critical storage infrastructure from potential attackers. The halt condition affects not just the specific interface but can cause cascading failures throughout the device's network operations, potentially impacting multiple storage paths and data transfer operations simultaneously.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address this vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate the affected device, and monitoring of network traffic for suspicious fragmented packet patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-691, Insufficient Control Flow Management, as it demonstrates inadequate validation of input data and improper handling of control flow during packet processing. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, Endpoint Denial of Service, and T1595.001, Network Denial of Service, representing both endpoint and network-level attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block fragmented packet patterns commonly associated with this attack vector, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing device halting conditions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper network protocol implementation and the need for comprehensive testing of network infrastructure devices against malicious packet injection scenarios.