CVE-2005-0597 in Application
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco devices running Application and Content Networking System (ACNS) 5.0 before 5.0.17.6 and 5.1 before 5.1.11.6 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process restart) via a "crafted TCP connection."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2017
Cisco devices running Application and Content Networking System ACNS version 5.0 before 5.0.17.6 and 5.1 before 5.1.11.6 contain a vulnerability that permits remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition through the manipulation of TCP connections. This flaw exists within the network processing mechanisms of these devices, specifically affecting how they handle incoming TCP connection requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the ACNS software stack, allowing malicious actors to craft specific TCP connection sequences that cause the affected processes to restart unexpectedly. The technical implementation involves the exploitation of buffer handling routines and connection state management functions that fail to properly validate the sequence numbers and other TCP header fields during connection establishment phases. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, both of which are fundamental weaknesses in software security design that enable attackers to manipulate system behavior through malformed inputs. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to network availability as it allows attackers to repeatedly disrupt services by causing process restarts without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially create cascading failures in network infrastructure where ACNS devices serve as content delivery or application networking nodes. Attackers can exploit this weakness by establishing TCP connections with specifically crafted parameters that trigger memory corruption or state machine inconsistencies within the ACNS processes, leading to automatic service restarts and temporary unavailability of network services. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, which focuses on disrupting network services through various means including protocol manipulation and resource exhaustion attacks. The affected devices typically include Cisco Content Services Switches, Application Switches, and other network infrastructure components that utilize the ACNS software platform for content delivery and application networking functions. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face potential disruption of web services, application delivery, and content caching functions, with the severity increasing based on the criticality of the affected network services and the frequency of attack attempts. The remediation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the TCP connection handling logic and implement proper input validation for connection parameters. Network administrators should also consider implementing access control measures and monitoring for unusual TCP connection patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive logging of network service availability to detect potential disruptions caused by this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper protocol implementation and input validation in network infrastructure devices, particularly those handling critical application and content delivery functions.