CVE-2002-2315 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco IOS 11.2.x and 12.0.x does not limit the size of its redirect table, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via spoofed ICMP redirect packets to the router.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2024
Cisco IOS versions 11.2.x and 12.0.x contain a critical vulnerability in their implementation of Internet Control Message Protocol handling that enables remote attackers to consume excessive memory resources through crafted ICMP redirect packets. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper bounds checking on the redirect table size, allowing malicious actors to flood the router with spoofed ICMP redirect messages that progressively consume available memory. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition within the routing table management subsystem, where the system fails to enforce maximum limits on the number of redirect entries that can be stored. This issue directly maps to CWE-122, which describes insufficient checking for buffer overflows, and falls under the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to system instability. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it can result in complete denial of service for network services, rendering the affected router unable to process legitimate routing information or forward traffic effectively. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending multiple spoofed ICMP redirect packets to the vulnerable router, causing the redirect table to grow without bounds until system memory is exhausted. This memory exhaustion condition can lead to system crashes, requiring manual intervention for recovery and potentially disrupting network connectivity for extended periods. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where routers serve as critical network infrastructure components, as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or specialized access privileges. Organizations running affected Cisco IOS versions should implement immediate mitigations including rate limiting of ICMP redirect packets, implementing access control lists to filter suspicious traffic, and applying the relevant security patches provided by Cisco. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers network disruption techniques, and T1562.001, which addresses denial of service through resource exhaustion. Network administrators must also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous ICMP redirect traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and resource management in network operating systems, emphasizing the need for robust bounds checking mechanisms in routing protocol implementations. This weakness demonstrates how seemingly benign network protocols can be weaponized to cause significant operational disruption when proper defensive measures are not in place. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify all affected devices and ensure prompt patch deployment. The memory consumption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with common denial of service attack patterns where resource exhaustion is used to compromise system availability, making it a critical concern for network security professionals responsible for maintaining service continuity.