CVE-2009-2861 in Aironet AP1200
Summary
by MITRE
The Over-the-Air Provisioning (OTAP) functionality on Cisco Aironet Lightweight Access Point 1100 and 1200 devices does not properly implement access-point association, which allows remote attackers to spoof a controller and cause a denial of service (service outage) via crafted remote radio management (RRM) packets, aka "SkyJack" or Bug ID CSCtb56664.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2018
The CVE-2009-2861 vulnerability resides within the Over-the-Air Provisioning functionality of Cisco Aironet Lightweight Access Point models 1100 and 1200, representing a critical flaw in wireless network infrastructure security. This vulnerability specifically targets the access-point association mechanism that governs how wireless access points communicate with their designated wireless controller. The flaw enables remote attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by spoofing a legitimate wireless controller, effectively disrupting normal network operations and creating denial of service conditions. The vulnerability operates under the guise of legitimate radio management protocols, making it particularly insidious as it appears to be part of normal network operations rather than malicious activity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of controller authenticity during the association process. When access points attempt to establish connections with wireless controllers, the system fails to properly authenticate the controller's identity before accepting configuration parameters. This weakness allows attackers to inject crafted RRM packets that mimic legitimate controller communications, causing the access points to associate with the malicious entity instead of the genuine wireless controller. The flaw specifically affects the authentication and validation mechanisms that should ensure only authorized controllers can manage access points, creating a pathway for unauthorized network control. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authentication and authorization mechanisms, specifically CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in network protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire wireless network infrastructures. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause complete service outages across multiple access points simultaneously, affecting network availability for all connected devices. The SkyJack attack vector allows attackers to not only cause denial of service but also potentially gain unauthorized access to network management functions, enabling further exploitation of the wireless infrastructure. Network administrators may experience significant operational challenges as the attack can occur remotely without requiring physical access to the network equipment, making detection and mitigation particularly difficult. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of wireless services, as outlined in the attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2861 should focus on implementing robust network segmentation and authentication controls to prevent unauthorized access to wireless infrastructure. Organizations should deploy network access control solutions that can detect and prevent unauthorized controller associations, while also implementing proper network monitoring to identify anomalous RRM packet behavior. Cisco released patches and firmware updates that address the authentication weakness in the OTAP implementation, requiring administrators to update their access point firmware immediately. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as controller authentication certificates and encrypted communication channels to prevent the spoofing attacks that exploit this vulnerability. The implementation of proper network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify the characteristic patterns of SkyJack attacks, enabling rapid response to potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of wireless infrastructure should be conducted to ensure that all devices remain protected against known vulnerabilities in the OTAP provisioning mechanism.