CVE-2010-1174 in TFTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TFTP Server 1.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crafted (1) read (aka RRQ) or (2) write (aka WRQ) request, or other TFTP packet. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
Cisco TFTP Server version 1.1 contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through malformed TFTP packets. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of read request (RRQ) and write request (WRQ) packets within the Trivial File Transfer Protocol implementation. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper error handling mechanisms within the server daemon, which fails to properly process malformed or crafted packets that exceed expected parameter boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends specially crafted TFTP packets that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions within the server process. These malformed packets can cause the TFTP daemon to crash and terminate unexpectedly, resulting in complete service disruption for legitimate users who require file transfer capabilities. The vulnerability affects both read and write operations, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit the flaw regardless of the specific TFTP operation being performed. The issue is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which represents a fundamental weakness in memory management and input validation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network infrastructure that relies on Cisco TFTP Server for configuration file transfers, firmware updates, or other file distribution tasks. The denial of service impact can severely disrupt network operations, particularly in environments where automated device provisioning or firmware management depends on TFTP services. Network administrators may experience complete loss of file transfer capabilities until the service is manually restarted, potentially leading to extended downtime for critical network operations. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, where adversaries exploit weaknesses in network services to disrupt availability.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the Cisco TFTP Server to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, along with network segmentation to limit exposure of the affected service to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include implementing network access controls to restrict TFTP server access to authorized systems only, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious TFTP traffic patterns, and establishing regular security assessments to identify other potential vulnerabilities in network infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider migrating to more secure and actively maintained file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS where possible to reduce reliance on potentially vulnerable legacy services.