CVE-2005-4564 in NetVanta
Summary
by MITRE
The Internet Key Exchange version 1 (IKEv1) implementation in ADTRAN NetVanta before 10.03.03.E might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted IKE packets, as demonstrated by the PROTOS ISAKMP Test Suite for IKEv1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4564 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the Internet Key Exchange version 1 implementation found in ADTRAN NetVanta network devices. This flaw specifically affects versions prior to 10.03.03.E and demonstrates how improperly validated incoming IKE packets can be exploited to disrupt network services. The vulnerability was exposed through testing conducted using the PROTOS ISAKMP Test Suite for IKEv1, which revealed the device's inability to properly handle malformed or crafted IKE protocol messages. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the IKEv1 processing logic, creating a scenario where maliciously constructed packets can trigger unexpected behavior in the network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the protocol level where the ADTRAN NetVanta device fails to properly sanitize incoming IKE packets before processing them. When the device receives specially crafted IKE messages, the parsing routines become overwhelmed or encounter unexpected data structures that cause the system to either crash or become unresponsive. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which addresses issues related to insufficient input validation, and specifically manifests as a lack of proper bounds checking and protocol state validation. The vulnerability exploitation technique involves sending malformed ISAKMP packets that cause buffer overflows or state machine inconsistencies within the IKE implementation, leading to complete service disruption for legitimate network users.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network availability and business continuity for organizations relying on ADTRAN NetVanta devices for their networking infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or authentication credentials. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining service availability while the vulnerability exists, as even a single malicious packet can bring down critical network services. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affecting secure communications, VPN connectivity, and overall network reliability, particularly in environments where these devices serve as primary security gateways or routing points.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patch version 10.03.03.E or later, which addresses the input validation gaps in the IKEv1 implementation. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide additional protection by limiting exposure to the vulnerable devices from untrusted networks. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual IKE traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while network administrators should consider implementing rate limiting or packet filtering rules targeting the specific vulnerable IKE message structures. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs, as it demonstrates how legacy implementations can contain fundamental protocol processing flaws that persist across multiple versions without proper patching. This case exemplifies ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, where adversaries leverage protocol-level weaknesses to compromise system availability and aligns with broader security framework recommendations for implementing robust input validation and protocol handling mechanisms.