CVE-2007-1257 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Network Analysis Module (NAM) in Cisco Catalyst Series 6000, 6500, and 7600 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via certain SNMP packets that are spoofed from the NAM s own IP address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1257 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco's Network Analysis Module (NAM) functionality deployed across Catalyst 6000, 6500, and 7600 series switches. This issue stems from improper authentication mechanisms within the NAM's SNMP packet processing capabilities, creating an avenue for remote code execution that can be exploited by attackers positioned outside the network perimeter. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and validation procedures implemented in the NAM component, which is designed to monitor and analyze network traffic patterns for security and performance optimization purposes.
The technical flaw manifests through a lack of proper source address validation within the SNMP packet handling process of the NAM module. When legitimate SNMP packets are received from the NAM's own IP address, the system fails to authenticate the true source of these packets, allowing malicious actors to spoof the NAM's address and inject arbitrary commands into the system. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and authentication checks, which aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and CWE-347 Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature. The vulnerability exists because the system assumes that any packet arriving from the NAM's own IP address is legitimate without proper verification of the packet's authenticity or the sender's authorization level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple network monitoring compromise, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected switches. This remote code execution capability allows adversaries to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe for enterprise networks that rely on these switches for core network operations, as the compromise of a single device could potentially disrupt network services or provide attackers with access to sensitive internal resources. The vulnerability affects network infrastructure components that are often considered critical and trusted, making the potential impact of exploitation significantly more dangerous than typical network security breaches.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected switches from untrusted networks, disabling unnecessary SNMP services where possible, and implementing proper access control lists to restrict communication to only trusted sources. The Cisco recommended solution involves applying specific software patches that enhance authentication mechanisms within the NAM module and implement proper source address validation for SNMP packets. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous SNMP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected devices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution, with potential lateral movement opportunities once initial access is achieved through the NAM component compromise.