CVE-2010-2980 in Unified Wireless Network Solution Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Unified Wireless Network (UWN) Solution 7.x before 7.0.98.0 on 5508 series controllers allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (pbuf exhaustion and device crash) via fragmented traffic, aka Bug ID CSCtd26794.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2980 affects Cisco Unified Wireless Network Solution version 7.x, specifically targeting the 5508 series wireless controllers. This issue represents a significant denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers to crash network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of fragmented network traffic by the wireless controller's packet buffer management system, creating a condition where legitimate network operations can be disrupted through carefully crafted attack payloads.
The technical flaw manifests when the wireless controller receives fragmented network traffic that exceeds its normal processing capacity. The system fails to properly manage the packet buffer allocation during the reassembly process of fragmented packets, leading to a gradual exhaustion of available packet buffers. This buffer exhaustion ultimately causes the device to become unresponsive and crash, resulting in complete service disruption for wireless network users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network protocol level, affecting the fundamental packet processing capabilities of the wireless infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for organizations relying on Cisco 5508 series controllers for wireless network operations. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can potentially disrupt wireless services from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or elevated privileges. The resulting denial of service can affect enterprise wireless networks, hospital networks, airport wireless systems, and other critical infrastructure that depends on continuous wireless connectivity. The crash condition typically requires manual intervention to restore services, leading to extended downtime and potential business disruption.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses issues related to improper handling of buffer sizes and memory allocation, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches, configuring traffic filtering rules to limit fragmentation, and monitoring network traffic for unusual fragmentation patterns. Network administrators should also consider implementing redundant wireless infrastructure and establishing incident response procedures to quickly address similar vulnerabilities. The attack vector demonstrates the importance of proper buffer management in network infrastructure devices and highlights the need for robust input validation in wireless controller firmware implementations.