CVE-2002-2415 in AT-8024
Summary
by MITRE
Allied Telesyn AT-8024 1.3.1 and Rapier 24 switches allow remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service in the management interface via a stream of zero (null) bytes sent via UDP to a running service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2024
The Allied Telesyn AT-8024 1.3.1 and Rapier 24 network switches present a critical vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute denial of service attacks against the device management interface. This vulnerability specifically targets the UDP-based management service running on these network switches, creating a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt normal operational functions. The flaw manifests when the system receives a stream of zero bytes sent via UDP protocol, which causes the management service to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of input validation issues and can be classified as CWE-129, representing improper handling of input data that leads to system instability. The vulnerability impacts both the AT-8024 switch running firmware version 1.3.1 and the Rapier 24 switch, indicating a widespread issue within the Allied Telesyn product line that affects multiple device models.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid authentication credentials to access the management interface, which limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. Once authenticated, the attacker can send a specially crafted stream of null bytes to the UDP service port, typically port 161 or 162 which are commonly used for SNMP management protocols. The switch management service fails to properly validate or handle these null byte sequences, leading to a buffer overflow condition or service termination that results in complete denial of service for the management interface. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input sanitization where the system does not properly validate the length or content of incoming data streams before processing them, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged to disrupt legitimate administrative access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as network administrators lose the ability to manage and monitor the affected switches remotely. This creates a significant risk for network operations since administrators cannot perform routine maintenance, configuration changes, or troubleshooting activities through the standard management interface. The denial of service affects not only the management capabilities but also potentially impacts network availability, as administrators may need to resort to physical access or alternative management methods to restore service. Organizations using these switches in production environments face the risk of extended downtime and potential service interruptions that can affect business operations. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for more sophisticated attacks, as the initial denial of service can be used as a precursor to other exploitation techniques or as a method to create cover for other malicious activities. From a security perspective, this vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, as the system should be designed to gracefully handle malformed input without compromising service availability. The issue highlights the importance of implementing robust error handling and input validation mechanisms in network device firmware, particularly for management services that are critical to network operations and require high availability. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates, network segmentation, and monitoring for unusual UDP traffic patterns to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.