CVE-2007-0965 in Firewall Services Module
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco FWSM 3.x before 3.1(3.2), when authentication is configured to use "aaa authentication match" or "aaa authentication include", allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reboot) via a long HTTP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0965 affects Cisco Firewall Services Module versions 3.x prior to 3.1(3.2) and represents a significant denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the device is configured to utilize either "aaa authentication match" or "aaa authentication include" authentication methods. The flaw resides in the device's handling of HTTP requests and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to catastrophic system failure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to trigger a complete device reboot, effectively rendering the firewall services unavailable and compromising network security posture.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the authentication processing logic of the FWSM software. When the device processes HTTP requests containing excessively long parameters, the system fails to properly validate the input length before attempting to process the authentication match or include operations. This lack of input sanitization creates a buffer overflow condition or memory corruption scenario that ultimately results in the device crashing and rebooting. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can hold, causing adjacent memory to be overwritten. The specific implementation flaw occurs during the authentication processing phase where the system does not adequately validate the length of HTTP request parameters before attempting to match or include them in the authentication process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for network infrastructure. A successful exploitation of this vulnerability can result in complete denial of service for the firewall services, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to network resources. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or network credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network security is paramount. Organizations utilizing affected Cisco FWSM versions face significant risk of service interruption, potential data exposure, and compromise of their security infrastructure. The vulnerability can be leveraged as part of a larger attack chain, potentially enabling further exploitation of network resources or serving as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected devices to the recommended Cisco software versions that address the authentication processing flaw. Network administrators should ensure that all FWSM devices are updated to version 3.1(3.2) or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to properly validate HTTP request parameters. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by restricting access to the affected devices. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which describes the use of network denial of service attacks to disrupt services. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all network devices remain patched and protected against similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the network infrastructure.