CVE-2004-1433 in ONS 15454 Optical Transport Platform
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, and ONS 15600 1.x(x), allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (control card reset) via malformed (1) TCP and (2) UDP packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1433 affects multiple Cisco ONS 15327, ONS 15454, ONS 15454 SDH, and ONS 15600 series network equipment operating on various 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 security flaw represents a significant concern for network infrastructure as it enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against critical telecommunications equipment. The vulnerability specifically targets the control card functionality of these devices, which serves as the central management and control component for the entire system. The affected Cisco ONS series equipment operates within the telecommunications infrastructure, managing high-capacity optical network services and providing essential connectivity for enterprise and service provider networks. The control card reset mechanism represents a critical system component that maintains the operational integrity of the network equipment, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can render entire network segments unavailable.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of malformed TCP and UDP packets that are transmitted to the affected Cisco devices. When these malformed packets reach the network equipment, the system fails to properly validate or process the packet structures, leading to an unexpected system state that triggers an automatic control card reset. This behavior demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or input validation vulnerability where the device lacks adequate packet filtering and validation mechanisms for network protocols. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, specifically targeting the TCP and UDP transport layer implementations within the device's firmware. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-20 General Input Validation, as the system fails to properly validate incoming network traffic before processing it. The attack vector allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as any network-connected attacker can potentially trigger the denial of service condition. The malformed packet structures likely contain unexpected or oversized data fields that cause the device's packet processing routines to malfunction, resulting in the control card entering a reset state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as the control card reset can cause complete network outages for the affected equipment. When the control card resets, it typically results in the loss of configuration data, temporary service disruption, and potential network reconfiguration issues that can affect multiple connected services. The reset operation may also trigger automatic failover mechanisms within the network infrastructure, potentially causing cascading failures across interconnected systems. Organizations relying on these network devices for critical communications may experience significant downtime, especially in service provider environments where network availability directly impacts customer service levels. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad, specifically targeting the system's ability to maintain continuous operation. The impact on network reliability is particularly severe given that these devices typically serve as core components in telecommunications networks, where any service interruption can affect thousands of users or connections. The remote nature of the attack means that organizations cannot rely solely on network segmentation or access controls to protect against this threat, as attackers can exploit the vulnerability from anywhere on the internet.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from network administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining Cisco ONS equipment. The primary recommended action involves applying the relevant security patches or firmware updates provided by Cisco to address the malformed packet handling issue. Organizations should implement network access control measures such as firewall rules and access lists to filter incoming TCP and UDP traffic to and from the affected devices, particularly focusing on blocking unexpected packet structures. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known malformed packet patterns can provide early warning of potential attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant network paths and failover mechanisms to minimize the impact of control card resets on overall network availability. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1498 Network Denial of Service and T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol, as it exploits network protocols to cause service disruption. Regular network monitoring and log analysis should be enhanced to detect any patterns of malformed packets that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar issues within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing proper network security practices to protect critical telecommunications infrastructure from remote exploitation.