CVE-2010-2822 in Ace 4710
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the RTSP inspection feature on the Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE) Module with software before A2(3.2) for Catalyst 6500 series switches and 7600 series routers, and the Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE) 4710 appliance with software before A3(2.6), allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted RTSP packets over TCP, aka Bug IDs CSCta85227 and CSCtg14858.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2822 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Cisco's Application Control Engine (ACE) modules and appliances that affects network infrastructure devices. This issue specifically targets the RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) inspection functionality, which is designed to monitor and control media streaming traffic in enterprise networks. The vulnerability exists in software versions prior to A2(3.2) for Catalyst 6500 series switches and 7600 series routers, as well as before A3(2.6) for the ACE 4710 appliance. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the RTSP inspection engine through carefully crafted RTSP packets transmitted over TCP connections, ultimately leading to complete device reloads and service disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and processing within the RTSP inspection engine of the Cisco ACE modules. When the system receives specially crafted RTSP packets, the inspection mechanism fails to properly handle the malformed data, causing memory corruption or unexpected state transitions that result in system crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which describes improper validation of the length of input data, and is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely without authentication requirements. The attack vector operates entirely over the TCP protocol, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the network device's interface, and the impact is severe as it results in complete device reload rather than just temporary service degradation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can cause significant business disruption in enterprise environments where these devices serve as critical network control points. Network administrators may experience unexpected outages that require manual intervention to restore services, potentially affecting video streaming services, surveillance systems, and other time-sensitive applications that rely on RTSP traffic. The vulnerability affects both hardware platforms in the Catalyst 6500 and 7600 series, indicating a widespread issue across Cisco's application control infrastructure, and the fact that it impacts both modular and dedicated appliance implementations suggests a fundamental flaw in the software architecture rather than isolated hardware issues. Organizations using these devices face the risk of prolonged service disruption, especially during peak usage times when RTSP traffic volumes are highest.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates to the affected Cisco ACE modules and appliances, with administrators prioritizing deployment of patches that address the RTSP inspection flaw. The recommended approach involves upgrading to software versions A2(3.2) or later for Catalyst series switches and 7600 routers, and A3(2.6) or later for the ACE 4710 appliance. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide temporary protection by limiting direct network access to these devices, though this approach does not eliminate the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual RTSP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider disabling RTSP inspection functionality if the service is not actively required. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, and organizations should ensure their incident response procedures include specific protocols for handling device reloads and recovery operations. Regular vulnerability assessments and network traffic analysis should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in related network infrastructure components.