CVE-2005-3482 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco 1200, 1131, and 1240 series Access Points, when operating in Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) mode and controlled by 2000 and 4400 series Airespace WLAN controllers running 3.1.59.24, allow remote attackers to send unencrypted traffic to a secure network using frames with the MAC address of an authenticated end host.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2017
This vulnerability exists in Cisco wireless access point devices operating in Lightweight Access Point Protocol mode and controlled by specific Airespace WLAN controllers. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject unencrypted traffic into secure networks by crafting frames with the MAC address of an authenticated end host, effectively bypassing network security controls. The affected hardware includes Cisco 1200, 1131, and 1240 series access points that communicate with 2000 and 4400 series Airespace controllers running firmware version 3.1.59.24. This represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental principles of network segmentation and authentication enforcement.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper MAC address validation mechanisms within the LWAPP protocol implementation. When access points operate in LWAPP mode, they maintain authentication state information for connected devices but fail to properly validate the source MAC addresses of incoming frames. Attackers can exploit this by sending crafted frames with legitimate MAC addresses of authenticated users, causing the access point to accept and forward these frames without proper encryption or authentication checks. This creates a man-in-the-middle scenario where unauthenticated attackers can inject traffic that appears to originate from legitimate network endpoints. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization processes within the wireless infrastructure, allowing attackers to leverage existing authenticated sessions for unauthorized network access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can potentially gain access to sensitive network resources that should be protected by authentication controls, leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized network access. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass network segmentation controls that separate different security domains, potentially allowing them to move laterally within the network. This weakness affects the core security model of wireless networks by undermining the trust relationships between access points and wireless clients, creating a pathway for attackers to establish persistent network presence. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the network infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. According to CWE-287, this vulnerability relates to improper authentication mechanisms, while ATT&CK technique T1071.004 demonstrates how attackers can leverage network protocols to bypass security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates and configuration changes to address the authentication bypass issue. Cisco has released patches and firmware updates specifically addressing this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately across all affected devices. Network administrators should implement additional security controls including strict MAC address filtering, enhanced wireless intrusion detection systems, and monitoring for anomalous traffic patterns. The access point configuration should be reviewed to ensure proper enforcement of authentication requirements and to disable unnecessary wireless services. Organizations should also implement network segmentation strategies that limit the impact of potential exploitation and establish robust monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized network access attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network components and ensure comprehensive protection against protocol-level attacks.