CVE-2010-0578 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
The IKE implementation in Cisco IOS 12.2 through 12.4 on Cisco 7200 and 7301 routers with VAM2+ allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a malformed IKE packet, aka Bug ID CSCtb13491.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0578 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Internet Key Exchange implementation of Cisco IOS operating systems. This weakness affects Cisco 7200 and 7301 routers that are configured with VAM2+ hardware modules, specifically targeting IOS versions ranging from 12.2 through 12.4. The issue stems from insufficient input validation within the IKE processing mechanism, which fails to properly handle malformed packets that are crafted to exploit memory handling vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where IKE messages are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered remotely without requiring authentication or prior access to the network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends a specially crafted malformed IKE packet to the affected router. The Cisco IOS implementation lacks proper bounds checking and input sanitization during IKE packet processing, causing the router to crash when encountering the malformed data structure. This results in an uncontrolled system reload that disrupts network services and can persist until manual intervention occurs. The flaw specifically affects the IKE negotiation process where security associations are established, and the improper handling of packet headers and payload data leads to memory corruption that ultimately triggers the device to reboot. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow condition according to CWE-121, where insufficient space allocation for received data causes system instability.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0578 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network availability and reliability. Organizations relying on these routers for critical network functions face significant risk of service outages that can affect multiple network segments, particularly in enterprise environments where these devices serve as core routing infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or network credentials, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt network operations. Network administrators must consider the potential for cascading failures when such devices experience downtime, as the router reload can affect routing stability and cause temporary network partitions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Cisco IOS versions to address the underlying IKE processing flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure to potential attackers, particularly by restricting access to IKE ports and implementing network monitoring to detect malformed packet traffic patterns. The implementation of intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious IKE traffic represents an effective defensive measure. Cisco released security advisories and patches specifically addressing this vulnerability through their regular software updates, and network administrators should ensure all affected devices receive the appropriate IOS updates. Additionally, implementing rate limiting on IKE traffic and configuring router access controls to restrict which systems can initiate IKE negotiations provides additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage protocol implementation flaws to disrupt service availability.