CVE-2009-4916 in ASA 5580
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5580 series devices with software before 8.1(2) allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (console hang) via a login action during failover replication, aka Bug ID CSCsq80095.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4916 affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5580 series devices operating with software versions prior to 8.1(2). This issue represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by remote authenticated attackers to disrupt normal device operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests during failover replication processes when an authenticated user attempts to perform a login action, resulting in a console hang condition that effectively disables the device's management interface. This flaw demonstrates a critical design oversight in the failover handling mechanisms of these network security appliances.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of authentication sessions during failover events within the ASA software architecture. When a failover occurs between primary and secondary devices in a redundant configuration, the system fails to properly manage concurrent login attempts from authenticated users. This creates a race condition where the console interface becomes unresponsive due to conflicting session management states during the replication process. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects the management console functionality, which is essential for system administration and monitoring operations. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability corresponds to CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization, highlighting the fundamental flaw in how the system manages shared resources during failover scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4916 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network security operations. When the console hangs, network administrators lose critical access to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the ASA device, effectively creating a window of vulnerability where security policies cannot be enforced or modified. This denial of service condition can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where network security appliances are critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad by preventing legitimate administrative access, while also potentially exposing the network to unauthorized access attempts during the period when management interfaces are unavailable. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, where the adversary can disrupt system availability through manipulation of authentication processes during failover events.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through software upgrades to ASA software version 8.1(2) or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the failover replication handling issues. Network security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous login patterns during failover events and establish alternative access procedures for critical network management tasks. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive testing of failover scenarios in non-production environments before deployment to ensure that the patch does not introduce new compatibility issues. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing redundant management access methods and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle console hang situations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current software versions and the critical need for thorough testing of security updates in production environments.