CVE-2007-2463 in PIX
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and PIX 7.1 before 7.1(2)49 and 7.2 before 7.2(2)17 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via unknown vectors related to VPN connection termination and password expiry.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2463 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and PIX firewalls operating within specific software version ranges. This issue manifests through unspecified attack vectors that specifically target VPN connection termination processes and password expiry mechanisms, creating a pathway for remote adversaries to trigger complete device reloads. The affected configurations include ASA and PIX versions 7.1 prior to 7.1(2)49 and 7.2 prior to 7.2(2)17, indicating a substantial window of vulnerable releases that would have been widely deployed in enterprise security infrastructures. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified suggests that the exact technical mechanisms enabling the attack were not fully disclosed in the initial reporting, though the impact was clearly demonstrated through the ability to force device reboots.
The technical flaw underlying this vulnerability resides in how the affected Cisco firewall implementations handle VPN connection termination sequences and password expiration events. When these processes are triggered through crafted remote communications, the system fails to properly manage the state transitions and resource cleanup operations, leading to an uncontrolled system restart. This behavior aligns with common software design patterns where insufficient error handling or resource management during critical operational sequences can result in system instability. The vulnerability specifically exploits weaknesses in the firewall's state machine implementation and its handling of authentication lifecycle events, creating a condition where legitimate network operations can be leveraged to create denial of service conditions. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and error handling within network security devices, where adversarial inputs can cause system-wide failures rather than just localized service disruptions.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2463 extends far beyond simple service interruption, as it can effectively disable critical network security infrastructure for extended periods. When a firewall device reloads due to this vulnerability, it creates complete network segmentation failures that can compromise security posture across the entire protected network perimeter. The timing of such attacks can be particularly damaging, as they may occur during peak network utilization periods or critical business operations, maximizing the disruption potential. Organizations relying on these firewalls for network protection would experience complete loss of firewall services, potentially exposing internal networks to direct external threats while administrators work to restore system functionality. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need not have physical access to the network equipment, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited physical security controls around their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of Cisco's security patches and updates, specifically targeting the version ranges mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should prioritize updating their ASA and PIX devices to versions 7.1(2)49 or later for 7.1 releases, and 7.2(2)17 or later for 7.2 releases, ensuring that all affected systems receive the necessary code modifications to address the VPN termination and password expiry handling issues. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns in VPN connection attempts and password expiration events that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation strategies that reduce the impact of potential exploitation by isolating critical firewall functions and maintaining redundant security infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue aligns with CWE-400, which addresses improper handling of resource exhaustion conditions, and may also relate to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify any additional devices or systems that may be running vulnerable software versions, as similar vulnerabilities could exist in other network security components within their environment.