CVE-2004-1432 in ONS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple versions of Cisco ONS 15327, ONS 15454, and ONS 15454 SDH, including 4.6(0) and 4.6(1), 4.5(x), 4.1(0) to 4.1(3), 4.0(0) to 4.0(2), and earlier versions, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (control card reset) via malformed (1) IP or (2) ICMP packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1432 affects Cisco ONS 15327, ONS 15454, and ONS 15454 SDH network equipment across multiple software versions including 4.6(0) and 4.6(1), 4.5(x), 4.1(0) to 4.1(3), 4.0(0) to 4.0(2), and earlier releases. This issue represents a significant security flaw that impacts the operational integrity of telecommunications infrastructure, specifically targeting the control card functionality of these network devices. The vulnerability falls under the category of denial of service attacks, where malicious actors can disrupt network operations by forcing device resets through crafted network traffic.
The technical flaw manifests when the affected Cisco ONS devices receive malformed IP or ICMP packets that are not properly handled by the device's packet processing mechanisms. These malformed packets exploit buffer overflow conditions or improper input validation within the network device's control card software, causing the system to crash and reset automatically. The vulnerability specifically targets the device's ability to process incoming network traffic without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to send specially crafted packets that trigger unexpected behavior in the control card's memory management and packet handling routines. This type of vulnerability is classified as a control card reset condition that effectively brings the network equipment offline, disrupting service availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise network reliability and availability for telecommunications providers. When the control card resets, the entire network device becomes unavailable, potentially affecting multiple network services and connections depending on the device's role within the network topology. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining service continuity while implementing patches or workarounds, as these devices typically operate in mission-critical environments where downtime can result in significant financial losses and service degradation for end users. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly deployed in backbone networks and metropolitan area networks where high availability and reliability are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the appropriate Cisco security patches and firmware updates that address the packet processing flaws in the control card software. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and buffer management in network infrastructure devices, aligning with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through denial of service attacks, emphasizing the need for robust network device security practices. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network equipment.