CVE-2005-3427 in Management Center for IPS Sensors
Summary
by MITRE
The Cisco Management Center (MC) for IPS Sensors (IPS MC) 2.1 can omit port field values while generating the Cisco IOS IPS configuration file, wich can cause some signatures to be disabled and makes it easier for attackers to escape detection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3427 affects the Cisco Management Center for IPS Sensors version 2.1, representing a critical configuration flaw within network security management infrastructure. This issue manifests when the management center generates Cisco IOS IPS configuration files, specifically omitting port field values during the automated configuration process. The omission occurs during the translation of security policies from the centralized management interface to the distributed IPS sensor devices, creating a fundamental gap in the security implementation that directly impacts the effectiveness of intrusion prevention capabilities.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and configuration generation logic within the Cisco Management Center software. When processing security policies that should be applied to IPS sensors, the system fails to properly populate the port specification fields within the generated configuration files. This omission creates a scenario where certain IPS signatures may not be correctly configured to monitor specific network ports, effectively disabling their ability to detect and prevent attacks targeting those communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the configuration generation level rather than the execution level, meaning the flaw exists in how security policies are translated rather than how they are enforced.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration errors to represent a significant security weakness that directly undermines network defense mechanisms. When port field values are omitted from IPS signatures, attackers can exploit this gap to craft attacks that bypass detection systems, as the sensors will not be properly configured to monitor the affected ports for malicious activity. This creates a false sense of security for network administrators who believe their IPS systems are fully protecting their network infrastructure, while in reality, specific attack vectors remain unmonitored and exploitable. The vulnerability particularly affects the principle of least privilege and defense in depth, as it allows attackers to escape detection through ports that should be actively monitored for suspicious traffic patterns.
The security implications align with CWE-754, which addresses the weakness of 'Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions' in software applications, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS, where attackers could exploit the disabled signatures to establish command and control channels through unmonitored ports. Organizations implementing Cisco IPS solutions using this vulnerable management center may experience undetected lateral movement, data exfiltration, or other malicious activities that would normally trigger signature-based alerts. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor adherence to security configuration management best practices, as it represents a failure in automated security policy enforcement that should maintain consistency between management interfaces and deployed security controls.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate manual verification of all generated IPS configurations to ensure port specifications are correctly populated, followed by implementation of additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider upgrading to newer versions of the Cisco Management Center that address this configuration generation flaw, while also implementing network segmentation and additional detection mechanisms to compensate for the disabled signatures. The vulnerability underscores the importance of configuration management processes and highlights the need for regular audits of security policy implementations to ensure that automated tools do not introduce security gaps through flawed configuration generation processes.