CVE-2005-2585 in ADSL-FR4II router
Summary
by MITRE
Mentor ADSL-FR4II router running firmware 2.00.0111 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (active TCP connections state table consumption) via a large number of connections, such as a port scan.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2017
The CVE-2005-2585 vulnerability affects the Mentor ADSL-FR4II router running firmware version 2.00.0111, presenting a significant denial of service risk that impacts network availability and operational continuity. This vulnerability specifically targets the router's handling of TCP connection state tables, which are critical components for managing network traffic and maintaining connection integrity. The flaw manifests when the device receives an excessive number of TCP connections or connection attempts, leading to rapid consumption of available state table resources that are designed to track active network sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and resource management within the router's network processing stack. When subjected to a large volume of connection requests, such as those generated during a port scan or other connection flooding attacks, the router's TCP connection tracking mechanism becomes overwhelmed. This occurs because the device lacks adequate rate limiting or connection throttling mechanisms to prevent excessive state table entries from being created. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-400 as an Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, specifically manifesting as a resource exhaustion attack that targets the router's connection tracking capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network infrastructure availability and reliability. Network administrators may experience complete loss of connectivity for connected devices, as the router becomes unable to process legitimate network traffic once its state table is exhausted. This affects not only the local network segment but can also impact broader network operations if the router serves as a critical gateway or firewall component. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where router stability directly correlates with business continuity and network access availability.
This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1498 for Network Denial of Service and T1071 for Application Layer Protocol usage, demonstrating how attackers can leverage protocol-specific weaknesses to achieve system-level disruption. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication and can be executed through standard network scanning tools, making it particularly dangerous as it can be easily automated and deployed at scale. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also ensuring firmware updates are deployed promptly to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing connection rate limiting and state table monitoring can provide early detection and mitigation capabilities for similar resource exhaustion attacks targeting network infrastructure components.