CVE-2010-2817 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the IKE implementation on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices with software 7.0 before 7.0(8.11), 7.1 and 7.2 before 7.2(5), 8.0 before 8.0(5.15), 8.1 before 8.1(2.44), 8.2 before 8.2(2.10), and 8.3 before 8.3(1.1) and Cisco PIX Security Appliances 500 series devices allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a crafted IKE message, aka Bug ID CSCte46507.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2817 represents a critical flaw in the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol implementation within Cisco's Adaptive Security Appliances and PIX Security Appliances. This issue affects a wide range of Cisco security devices including the ASA 5500 series and PIX 500 series, spanning multiple software versions from 7.0 through 8.3. The vulnerability manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can be triggered by sending specifically crafted IKE messages to the affected devices. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a significant risk as it allows remote attackers to disrupt network security operations without requiring authentication or physical access to the devices. The vulnerability specifically impacts the IKE implementation, which is fundamental to establishing secure communication channels in IPsec VPN configurations that many organizations rely upon for secure remote access and site-to-site connectivity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the IKE processing logic of Cisco's security appliances. When these devices receive malformed or specially crafted IKE messages, the implementation fails to properly handle the unexpected data structures, leading to a device crash and subsequent reload. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes issues related to insufficient input validation, and more specifically CWE-134, which addresses the use of format strings in ways that can lead to code execution or system instability. The flaw essentially creates a buffer over-read or improper state handling condition that causes the device to enter an unrecoverable state, forcing an automatic restart that disrupts network security services. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because IKE is a critical protocol for VPN establishment, and compromising the IKE implementation effectively undermines the security appliance's primary function of protecting network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise network availability and security posture for organizations relying on these devices. When an affected Cisco ASA or PIX device experiences a reload due to this vulnerability, it results in immediate loss of network security services including firewall protection, intrusion prevention, and VPN connectivity. This creates a window of vulnerability during which network traffic flows are unfiltered and potentially exposed to malicious actors. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger this condition from anywhere on the internet without requiring any credentials, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed security appliances. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and T1566.002 (Phishing via Service) as it enables attackers to perform denial of service attacks against network infrastructure. Organizations may also face compliance and regulatory issues if their security infrastructure becomes unavailable due to such attacks, particularly in environments where continuous network availability is mandated.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software updates to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically versions 7.0(8.11), 7.2(5), 8.0(5.15), 8.1(2.44), 8.2(2.10), and 8.3(1.1). Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, particularly by ensuring that IKE traffic is only accepted from known, trusted sources. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual IKE traffic patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security appliance firmware and implementing robust patch management processes. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant security appliances or backup systems to minimize the impact of such denial of service conditions. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors. The incident also reinforces the need for organizations to maintain detailed incident response procedures for handling security appliance failures and ensuring minimal disruption to critical network services.