CVE-2009-0625 in ACE 4710
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Cisco ACE Application Control Engine Module for Catalyst 6500 Switches and 7600 Routers before A2(1.2) and Cisco ACE 4710 Application Control Engine Appliance before A1(8.0) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a crafted SNMPv3 packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0625 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Cisco's Application Control Engine modules and appliances. This issue affects the ACE Application Control Engine Module for Catalyst 6500 Switches and 7600 Routers operating before software version A2(1.2) and the ACE 4710 Application Control Engine Appliance before A1(8.0). The flaw specifically manifests through improper handling of crafted SNMPv3 packets, which can trigger device reload operations without requiring authentication or specific privileges. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of insufficient input validation and improper error handling within network infrastructure devices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of SNMPv3 packet structures that are processed by the affected Cisco ACE modules. When these malformed packets are received by the vulnerable device, the processing routine fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming SNMPv3 data, leading to an unexpected system state that ultimately results in device reload. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-20, improper input validation, as the system does not adequately check packet contents before processing them. The lack of authentication requirements means that any remote attacker can potentially exploit this weakness without prior access credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-0625 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network availability and business continuity. Network administrators responsible for maintaining ACE modules and appliances face significant risk of unauthorized denial of service attacks that can cause unexpected device restarts, leading to temporary network outages and potential loss of network control. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise networks that rely heavily on application control and load balancing capabilities, as the affected devices often serve critical functions in traffic management and application delivery. The attack vector through SNMPv3 also means that this vulnerability can be exploited from any location that has network access to the affected device, making it particularly dangerous in environments where SNMP traffic is not properly restricted or filtered.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-0625 should focus on immediate software updates and network segmentation measures. Cisco has released patches and software updates addressing this vulnerability, and administrators should prioritize applying the appropriate firmware versions to all affected devices. Network segmentation through access control lists and firewall rules can help limit exposure by restricting SNMPv3 traffic to trusted management systems only. Additionally, implementing SNMPv3 authentication and encryption mechanisms can provide an extra layer of protection against unauthorized packet manipulation. Organizations should also consider monitoring network traffic for suspicious SNMPv3 packet patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework would place it within the T1499.004 technique category for network denial of service, emphasizing the need for comprehensive network defense strategies that include both preventive measures and rapid response protocols to address potential exploitation attempts.