CVE-2002-1944 in Surfboard
Summary
by MITRE
Motorola Surfboard 4200 cable modem allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) by performing a SYN scan using a tool such as nmap.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1944 affects the Motorola Surfboard 4200 cable modem, representing a significant security weakness in network infrastructure devices that was documented over two decades ago. This issue demonstrates how even seemingly benign network scanning activities can be exploited to disrupt critical network services. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the modem encounters a SYN scan performed by tools such as nmap, which are commonly used for network reconnaissance and security auditing purposes. The attack vector exploits the modem's insufficient handling of TCP connection requests, leading to system instability and complete service interruption.
The technical flaw resides in the modem's TCP stack implementation, where it fails to properly manage incoming SYN packets during the connection establishment process. When a remote attacker executes a SYN scan against the device, the modem's operating system or network protocol stack becomes overwhelmed by the rapid succession of half-open connection attempts. This condition causes the device to crash or become unresponsive, effectively creating a denial of service scenario that prevents legitimate network traffic from flowing through the modem. The vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input validation and resource management in embedded network devices, where the system does not adequately handle abnormal traffic patterns or malicious scanning activities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to network availability and reliability, particularly in environments where uninterrupted internet connectivity is critical. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect multiple users simultaneously, potentially causing widespread network outages within a local area network. Network administrators and security professionals must recognize that such vulnerabilities can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt services, and the consequences can be severe in mission-critical environments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper network device hardening and the need for regular security assessments of embedded systems that form the backbone of modern network infrastructure.
The attack pattern associated with CVE-2002-1944 aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques, particularly those related to network service scanning and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability can be classified under CWE-20, which deals with improper input validation, and CWE-119, which addresses insufficient resource management. The issue also demonstrates characteristics of CWE-362, indicating a potential race condition or resource exhaustion scenario. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of critical network devices to external scanning activities. Additionally, regular firmware updates and network monitoring systems can help detect and mitigate such attacks before they can cause significant disruption. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure device configuration and the need for comprehensive security testing of network infrastructure equipment before deployment in production environments.