CVE-2007-5651 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) implementation in Cisco IOS 12.3 and 12.4 on Cisco Access Points and 1310 Wireless Bridges (Wireless EAP devices), IOS 12.1 and 12.2 on Cisco switches (Wired EAP devices), and CatOS 6.x through 8.x on Cisco switches allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a crafted EAP Response Identity packet.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5651 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Cisco's Extensible Authentication Protocol implementation across multiple network device platforms. This flaw affects both wireless and wired network infrastructure components, specifically targeting Cisco IOS versions 12.3 and 12.4 running on access points and wireless bridges, as well as IOS 12.1 and 12.2 on wired switches, alongside CatOS 6.x through 8.x versions on Cisco switches. The vulnerability manifests through the processing of malformed EAP Response Identity packets, which are fundamental components of the authentication process used in wireless and wired network access control systems. The affected devices operate under the assumption that EAP packets will conform to expected formats, creating an exploitable condition when malformed packets are received.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the EAP processing module of Cisco IOS and CatOS operating systems. When a specially crafted EAP Response Identity packet is transmitted to an affected device, the authentication subsystem fails to properly handle the malformed data structure, leading to a system crash or device reload. This processing error occurs at the protocol level where the device attempts to parse and validate the identity information contained within the EAP packet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an insufficient input validation issue, where the system fails to properly validate the boundaries and structure of received data before processing. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to trigger a buffer overflow or similar memory corruption condition that results in the device's authentication service becoming unavailable.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5651 extends far beyond simple network disruption, as it affects the core authentication infrastructure of Cisco network devices. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause complete service outages for wireless and wired network access, potentially affecting thousands of users within a corporate or institutional network. Network administrators may experience extended downtime while devices reload and restore normal operations, leading to productivity losses and potential security implications. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication credentials to execute, making it a passive denial of service threat that can be launched from any location within the wireless or wired network range. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage protocol weaknesses to disrupt network services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of firmware updates from Cisco, specifically targeting the affected IOS and CatOS versions. Organizations should prioritize patching all affected devices including wireless access points, wireless bridges, and wired switches across their network infrastructure. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide temporary protection by limiting the attack surface, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous EAP packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of network device hardening practices and regular security assessments. Cisco released security advisories and patches addressing this specific issue, and organizations should follow the recommended remediation procedures outlined in their security bulletins. Additionally, implementing network access control lists and EAP packet filtering mechanisms can help prevent malformed packets from reaching vulnerable systems, though these measures provide only partial protection against this particular vulnerability.