CVE-2007-5568 in PIX
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco PIX and ASA appliances with 7.0 through 8.0 software, and Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM) 3.1(5) and earlier, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a crafted MGCP packet, aka CSCsi90468 (appliance) and CSCsi00694 (FWSM).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5568 represents a critical remote denial of service flaw affecting Cisco security appliances and modules. This vulnerability specifically targets Cisco PIX firewalls, ASA appliances running software versions 7.0 through 8.0, and Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM) versions 3.1(5) and earlier. The flaw manifests through manipulation of Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) packets, which are used for communication between media gateway controllers and media gateways in voice and video communication systems. The vulnerability has been assigned two separate identifiers by Cisco, CSCsi90468 for the appliance versions and CSCsi00694 for the FWSM module, indicating the distinct but related nature of the issue across different product lines. This classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses memory-related vulnerabilities, and reflects the fundamental nature of how these devices process incoming MGCP traffic.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of malformed MGCP packets that are crafted to exploit specific parsing flaws in the affected Cisco devices. When these specially crafted packets are received by the vulnerable appliances, they trigger an unexpected behavior in the device's processing engine that ultimately results in a complete device reload or reboot. The exploitation does not require authentication or special privileges, making it particularly dangerous as any remote attacker with network access can potentially disrupt services. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the MGCP processing components of these security devices, allowing malformed data to cause memory corruption or stack overflow conditions that force the system to restart. This behavior is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure devices, and represents a classic example of how protocol parsing vulnerabilities can be leveraged for service disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical network security functions. When affected devices experience reloads, they temporarily become unavailable to filter and control network traffic, creating potential security gaps in the network infrastructure. The disruption affects not only the targeted device but also any network services dependent on that device's functionality, potentially causing cascading failures in network operations. Organizations relying on these devices for network security may experience significant downtime, especially if they have limited redundancy or failover mechanisms in place. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprises with voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure that relies on MGCP for call control, as these environments are more likely to encounter the specific packet types that trigger the flaw. The issue also represents a significant concern for service providers and organizations with multiple affected devices, as the potential for coordinated attacks to simultaneously disrupt multiple network security appliances increases the overall risk profile.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate software updates and patches provided by Cisco to address the underlying parsing flaws in the MGCP processing components. Organizations should prioritize upgrading their affected Cisco PIX, ASA, and FWSM devices to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should also implement access control measures to limit exposure to the affected protocols, such as blocking MGCP traffic at network boundaries or implementing firewall rules that restrict access to MGCP ports. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure devices. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious MGCP packet patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also verify their network segmentation practices to ensure that critical security appliances are not directly exposed to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of network infrastructure security and the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address both known and emerging threats in network security devices.