CVE-2006-3596 in Intrusion Prevention System
Summary
by MITRE
The device driver for Intel-based gigabit network adapters in Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) 5.1(1) through 5.1(p1), as installed on various Cisco Intrusion Prevention System 42xx appliances, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel panic and possibly network outage) via a crafted IP packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3596 represents a critical flaw in the network driver implementation of Cisco's Intrusion Prevention System appliances. This issue specifically affects the Intel-based gigabit network adapters utilized in Cisco IPS 42xx series devices running software versions 5.1(1) through 5.1(p1). The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the network driver component that processes incoming IP packets, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer overflow or memory corruption condition that occurs when the network driver receives malformed IP packets. When these crafted packets are processed by the vulnerable driver, they trigger an unrecoverable kernel panic within the operating system. This kernel level failure results in immediate system crash and complete service disruption, effectively rendering the intrusion prevention appliance non-operational. The flaw operates at the network protocol layer, specifically targeting the IP packet handling mechanisms within the device driver code, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or physical access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential network infrastructure compromise and business continuity issues. Organizations relying on Cisco IPS 42xx appliances for network security monitoring and threat prevention face significant risk when this vulnerability is exploited. The kernel panic condition can cause complete network outages as the affected appliance becomes unreachable and unable to process any network traffic. Additionally, the potential for network disruption means that security monitoring capabilities are completely compromised, leaving the network vulnerable to attacks that would normally be detected and blocked by the IPS system. This creates a dangerous scenario where network security is simultaneously weakened and disrupted, as the very device meant to protect the network becomes a point of failure.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network disruption and T1566.001 for malicious code execution through network protocols. The remote exploit capability places this vulnerability in the high-risk category according to CVSS scoring systems, as it requires no local privileges and can be triggered from any network location. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates to the latest available versions that contain patched driver implementations. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining redundant security infrastructure to prevent complete network exposure during potential attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in network device drivers and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of embedded systems in enterprise network infrastructure.