CVE-2008-2058 in PIX
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Cisco PIX security appliance 7.2.x before 7.2(3)2 and 8.0.x before 8.0(2)17 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a port scan against TCP port 443 on the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2058 affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Cisco PIX security appliances running specific software versions. This issue represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to force device reloads, thereby disrupting network security services and potentially creating temporary security gaps. The vulnerability specifically targets TCP port 443, which is the standard port for secure HTTPS communications, making it particularly concerning for network administrators who rely on these devices for protecting sensitive traffic.
The technical flaw manifests when the affected security appliances process port scan attempts directed at TCP port 443. The device fails to properly handle these specific scan patterns, leading to a condition where the appliance becomes unstable and eventually reloads itself. This behavior occurs because the device's packet processing logic does not adequately validate or filter incoming traffic patterns that mimic port scanning activities on the HTTPS port. The vulnerability essentially creates a condition where legitimate security scanning activities can trigger device instability, demonstrating a lack of proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the appliance's network processing stack.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network infrastructure security. When exploited, it can cause unauthorized device reloads that temporarily disable network security services, potentially allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls during the device recovery period. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect the availability of critical network services, particularly in environments where the ASA or PIX appliances serve as primary security gateways. Network administrators may experience unexpected downtime and could be forced to perform emergency device maintenance, disrupting normal business operations and potentially exposing networks to additional threats during recovery periods.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses issues related to improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in network security devices. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage device vulnerabilities to disrupt network availability. The exploitability of this weakness is relatively straightforward, requiring only basic port scanning capabilities to trigger the device reload, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for unusual port scan patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should consider deploying intrusion detection systems to identify and alert on suspicious traffic patterns targeting the vulnerable ports, as well as establishing robust incident response procedures to quickly address device reload events and maintain continuous network security coverage.