CVE-2007-4285 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Cisco IOS and Cisco IOS XR 12.x up to 12.3, including some versions before 12.3(15) and 12.3(14)T, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information (partial packet contents) or cause a denial of service (router or component crash) via crafted IPv6 packets with a Type 0 routing header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4285 represents a critical security flaw affecting Cisco IOS and IOS XR operating systems across multiple version ranges including various releases before 12.315 and 12.314T. This issue specifically targets the handling of IPv6 packets containing Type 0 routing headers, which are part of the IPv6 routing header specification defined in RFC 2460. The vulnerability manifests through improper processing of these specific packet types, creating potential attack vectors that could compromise network infrastructure devices running affected Cisco IOS versions.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and processing within the IPv6 packet handling mechanisms of Cisco routers. When routers receive IPv6 packets with Type 0 routing headers, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the packet structure before processing. This processing error creates memory corruption conditions that can result in two distinct but serious outcomes. The first outcome involves information disclosure where partial contents of packets are exposed to unauthorized parties, potentially revealing sensitive network traffic or system information. The second outcome is a denial of service condition where the router or specific network components crash due to the malformed packet processing, leading to network disruption and service availability issues.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security and availability. Attackers can exploit this flaw remotely without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible network infrastructure. The potential for information disclosure means that sensitive data passing through affected routers could be intercepted and analyzed by malicious actors. Additionally, the denial of service component creates opportunities for network disruption attacks that could impact critical infrastructure services. The vulnerability affects routers that process IPv6 traffic, making it particularly concerning for modern networks transitioning to IPv6 or those with IPv6 support enabled. This issue aligns with CWE-125 weakness category related to out-of-bounds read conditions and represents a denial of service vulnerability that could be exploited by attackers following ATT&CK technique T1499 for network disruption.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to craft specific IPv6 packets containing Type 0 routing headers that trigger the memory corruption behavior in affected Cisco IOS implementations. Network administrators should note that this vulnerability affects a broad range of Cisco IOS versions, making it important to assess all network equipment running these software versions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target affected systems from outside the network perimeter, increasing the potential attack surface. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure while applying necessary patches and updates. The remediation approach involves upgrading to Cisco IOS versions that have addressed this vulnerability, typically through the release of security patches that properly validate IPv6 packet structures before processing. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocol implementations and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates in network infrastructure devices.