CVE-2007-5550 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Cisco IOS allows remote attackers to obtain the IOS version via unspecified vectors involving a "common network service", aka PSIRT-1255024833. NOTE: as of 20071016, the only disclosure is a vague pre-advisory with no actionable information. However, since it is from a well-known researcher, it is being assigned a CVE identifier for tracking purposes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2021
This vulnerability resides within Cisco IOS operating system and represents a significant information disclosure flaw that could potentially expose system version details to remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects common network services and allows adversaries to obtain the IOS version through unspecified attack vectors that were not fully detailed in the initial disclosure. The lack of specific technical details in the initial advisory, as noted in the CVE description, indicates that this was likely an early-stage vulnerability disclosure where researchers had identified the issue but had not yet fully characterized the precise methods of exploitation. The vulnerability was categorized under the Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) with identifier 1255024833, suggesting it was part of Cisco's internal tracking and response procedures. This type of information disclosure vulnerability falls under the broader category of reconnaissance attacks where attackers seek to gather intelligence about target systems before launching more sophisticated attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the exposure of IOS version information through common network services, which typically operate on standard ports and protocols that are widely accessible. Such vulnerabilities often stem from improper handling of version information in service responses, where the system inadvertently reveals its software version as part of normal operation. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths could potentially be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective. Common network services in IOS environments include services like telnet, ssh, http, and various protocol implementations that might return version strings in their responses or banners. This type of vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which covers information exposure, and represents a fundamental weakness in how the system handles version information disclosure. The vulnerability could potentially be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain where the disclosed version information helps attackers identify known exploits or vulnerabilities specific to that IOS version.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with crucial intelligence for subsequent attack phases. When an attacker can obtain the exact IOS version, they gain the ability to cross-reference known vulnerabilities and exploits specific to that version, significantly increasing their attack surface. This information can be used to craft targeted attacks that exploit version-specific weaknesses, making the initial reconnaissance phase more effective and potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's classification as affecting "common network services" suggests that it could be exploited from any location where these services are accessible, potentially through the internet or internal network segments. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where these services are exposed to untrusted networks, as it could provide attackers with the information needed to escalate their attacks against the system. The vulnerability's potential for exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082, which involves discovering information about the target system, and T1592, which covers reconnaissance techniques for identifying vulnerabilities in systems.
The limited disclosure information available at the time of CVE assignment indicates that this vulnerability was likely part of a coordinated disclosure process where researchers were still investigating the full scope of the issue. The fact that this vulnerability was assigned a CVE identifier despite minimal disclosure information demonstrates Cisco's proactive approach to tracking potential security issues, even when full details were not yet available. This approach is consistent with industry best practices for vulnerability management and helps ensure that potential threats are properly tracked and addressed. Organizations implementing Cisco IOS devices would need to monitor for security advisories and updates related to this vulnerability, as the lack of specific exploitation details does not necessarily mean the vulnerability is not actively being exploited in the wild. The vulnerability's nature suggests that it could be exploited through network scanning tools that probe for version information in standard service responses, making it a potential target for automated attack tools. Given the nature of information disclosure vulnerabilities, the risk assessment should consider not just immediate exploitation but also the potential for future attacks that could leverage the disclosed version information to exploit other vulnerabilities in the same system.