CVE-2007-5584 in Firewall Services Module
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM) 3.2(3) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted "data in the control-plane path with Layer 7 Application Inspections."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5584 affects Cisco Firewall Services Module version 3.2(3) and represents a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited by remote attackers to force device reloads. This issue specifically targets the control-plane path of the FWSM appliance where Layer 7 application inspections are processed, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted data can trigger system instability. The vulnerability exists within the packet processing logic that handles application layer inspection, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring authentication or physical access to the device. The control-plane path represents a critical component of network security appliances where routing decisions and security policy enforcement occur, making this vulnerability especially concerning for network infrastructure protection.
The technical flaw manifests when the FWSM processes malformed or specially crafted data packets that traverse the control-plane path during Layer 7 application inspection operations. This processing error causes the device to become unstable and eventually reload its operating system, effectively disrupting network connectivity and security services. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the application inspection engine, which fails to properly sanitize or reject malformed data packets before they are processed in the control plane. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where adversaries leverage application layer vulnerabilities to exhaust system resources or trigger critical failures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to complete network outages and compromise security posture. When an FWSM device reloads due to this vulnerability, all active security policies and connections are lost, requiring manual intervention to restore service and potentially leaving network segments unprotected during the recovery period. Network administrators may experience significant downtime while troubleshooting the issue, and the attack vector allows for automated exploitation through remote network access. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on FWSM appliances for perimeter security, particularly those with extensive Layer 7 inspection configurations that process high volumes of application traffic. The potential for repeated exploitation means that a single successful attack can cause ongoing service disruption until the device is manually rebooted or the vulnerability is patched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5584 should focus on immediate patching of affected FWSM devices to the latest firmware versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of FWSM appliances to untrusted networks, while also monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The Cisco Security Advisory provides specific guidance on disabling problematic inspection features until patches can be applied, and organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, maintaining detailed network documentation and conducting regular security assessments helps ensure that all FWSM deployments are properly configured and monitored for similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework recommends implementing network traffic analysis and anomaly detection to identify potential exploitation of such control-plane vulnerabilities, while the CWE classification emphasizes the need for robust input validation mechanisms in all network processing components to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.