CVE-2007-2038 in 2100 Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
The Network Processing Unit (NPU) in the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) before 3.2.193.5, 4.0.x before 4.0.206.0, and 4.1.x allows remote attackers on a local wireless network to cause a denial of service (loss of packet forwarding) via (1) crafted SNAP packets, (2) malformed 802.11 traffic, or (3) packets with certain header length values, aka Bug ID CSCsg36361.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2038 affects the Network Processing Unit within Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, specifically impacting versions prior to 3.2.193.5, 4.0.206.0, and 4.1.206.0. This flaw represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers positioned on the same local wireless network segment. The NPU serves as the core processing unit responsible for handling wireless packet forwarding and network traffic management within the wireless infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise wireless deployments where controller-based architectures are prevalent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the NPU's packet processing routines. Attackers can exploit this weakness through three distinct vectors including crafted SNAP (Subnetwork Access Protocol) packets that contain maliciously formatted data structures, malformed 802.11 frames that violate expected protocol standards, or packets containing specific header length values that trigger buffer overflow conditions or state machine failures. These attack vectors leverage fundamental weaknesses in the wireless controller's packet parsing logic, where the system fails to properly validate incoming packet headers and payload structures before processing them through the network forwarding pipeline. The vulnerability specifically targets the NPU's ability to handle and forward wireless traffic, which directly impacts the controller's capacity to maintain network connectivity and service availability for connected wireless clients.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass complete network availability compromise for wireless clients within the affected controller's coverage area. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability causes the NPU to cease packet forwarding operations, effectively creating a denial of service condition that isolates wireless clients from network resources. This disruption can persist until the affected controller is manually restarted or the vulnerable software version is upgraded, potentially leading to extended periods of network unavailability. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed by any wireless client within the local network segment, making it particularly dangerous in environments where wireless access is not properly secured or segmented. Organizations relying on Cisco WLC deployments for wireless infrastructure management face significant risk of operational disruption, service degradation, and potential business continuity impacts when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2038 should prioritize immediate software patching to the affected Cisco WLC versions, with the implementation of network segmentation and access control measures to limit the attack surface. Organizations should implement wireless intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and establish network monitoring protocols to detect service disruption events. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-248 Uncontrolled Format String, representing weaknesses in input sanitization and error handling within network processing components. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, and organizations should consider implementing network access control policies that restrict wireless client privileges and limit the potential impact of such attacks. Additionally, network administrators should establish incident response procedures specifically addressing wireless infrastructure denial of service events and maintain regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in wireless network infrastructure components.