CVE-2006-3291 in Wireless Access Point
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface on Cisco IOS 12.3(8)JA and 12.3(8)JA1, as used on the Cisco Wireless Access Point and Wireless Bridge, reconfigures itself when it is changed to use the "Local User List Only (Individual Passwords)" setting, which removes all security and password configurations and allows remote attackers to access the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3291 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco IOS versions 12.3(8)JA and 12.3(8)JA1 that affects wireless access point and wireless bridge devices. This issue manifests through the web interface configuration management system where specific security settings trigger an unintended reconfiguration process that completely undermines the device's security posture. The flaw occurs specifically when administrators attempt to modify the authentication mechanism to use "Local User List Only (Individual Passwords)" setting, which should theoretically provide enhanced security through individual password management for local users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and configuration handling within the Cisco IOS web interface subsystem. When the system processes the transition to the specified authentication mode, it fails to maintain the existing security configurations and instead executes an automatic reset procedure that strips away all password protections and security parameters. This behavior creates a dangerous state where the device becomes accessible to unauthorized users without proper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified as a configuration management flaw that violates fundamental security principles of maintaining system integrity during administrative operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to wireless network security as it allows remote attackers to gain full administrative access to affected devices. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include complete system compromise, enabling attackers to modify network configurations, implement malicious policies, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the wireless infrastructure. The remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to leverage this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where wireless access points serve as critical network entry points.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Organizations utilizing affected Cisco IOS versions face significant exposure to privilege escalation attacks, as the vulnerability effectively removes all authentication barriers that should protect the device's administrative interface. The flaw demonstrates a critical failure in the principle of least privilege and configuration integrity, where the system should have maintained security controls during the transition to a different authentication method.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of Cisco IOS patches and updates that address the configuration handling flaw. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to wireless infrastructure, disable unnecessary web interface access, and enforce strict access controls through alternative management methods such as SSH or Telnet. Organizations must also conduct comprehensive audits of their wireless infrastructure to identify all affected devices and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized configuration changes and abnormal access patterns provides an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts.