CVE-2009-1159 in PIX
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 Series and PIX Security Appliances 7.2 before 7.2(4)26, 8.0 before 8.0(4)22, and 8.1 before 8.1(2)12, when SQL*Net inspection is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (traceback and device reload) via a series of SQL*Net packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1159 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 Series and PIX Security Appliances. This flaw manifests specifically when SQL*Net inspection is enabled on affected device versions, creating a pathway for remote attackers to disrupt network operations through carefully crafted packet sequences. The vulnerability impacts multiple software versions including ASA 7.2 releases before 7.2(4)26, ASA 8.0 releases before 8.0(4)22, and ASA 8.1 releases before 8.1(2)12, indicating a widespread exposure across the Cisco security appliance portfolio during this period.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the SQLNet protocol inspection functionality of Cisco ASA devices. When the system processes a series of specially constructed SQLNet packets, the inspection engine fails to properly handle certain packet structures, leading to a condition that triggers an abnormal termination of the inspection process. This malfunction results in a traceback error that cascades through the device's operating system, ultimately causing the security appliance to reload its operating system and become temporarily unavailable to network traffic. The flaw operates at the protocol inspection layer, where the device's ability to analyze and filter network traffic becomes compromised, creating a denial of service condition that affects the entire network infrastructure relying on these security appliances.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect critical network infrastructure components that depend on continuous availability. Network administrators managing multiple ASA devices across different security zones may experience cascading failures if the vulnerability is exploited in a coordinated attack. The device reload process typically results in temporary network interruption, potentially affecting business continuity and requiring manual intervention to restore service. Organizations with limited network redundancy or those operating in regulated environments where uptime is critical face heightened risk from this vulnerability, as the disruption can occur without warning and may persist until the device is manually restarted or the software is patched.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the broader ATT&CK framework, particularly under the mitigation techniques related to network traffic analysis and protocol inspection. The weakness aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific manifestation here involves inspection engine failure rather than traditional buffer issues. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling SQL*Net inspection when not required, applying the appropriate Cisco software patches, and monitoring network traffic for anomalous packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing for protocol inspection features and highlights the need for robust error handling mechanisms in network security devices to prevent exploitation scenarios that could lead to complete system compromise through denial of service attacks.