CVE-2010-2983 in Unified Wireless Network Solution Software
Summary
by MITRE
The workgroup bridge (aka WGB) functionality in Cisco Unified Wireless Network (UWN) Solution 7.x before 7.0.98.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (dropped connection) via a series of spoofed EAPoL-Logoff frames, related to an "EAPoL logoff attack," aka Bug ID CSCte43374.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2983 affects the workgroup bridge functionality within Cisco Unified Wireless Network Solution version 7.x prior to 7.0.98.0. This flaw resides in the EAPoL (Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN) logoff handling mechanism, specifically within the wireless network infrastructure that manages authentication and connection states. The issue manifests as a denial of service condition that disrupts network connectivity for wireless clients. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network layer where authentication protocols are processed, making it a critical point of failure in wireless security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of EAPoL-Logoff frames that are spoofed by remote attackers to manipulate the wireless network's authentication state machine. When the workgroup bridge processes these malformed or unauthorized EAPoL-Logoff frames, it triggers an abnormal behavior that causes legitimate wireless connections to be dropped or terminated. This attack vector specifically targets the EAPoL protocol implementation within the Cisco UWN solution, where the system fails to properly validate the authenticity of logoff requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate state management within the EAPoL processing logic, allowing malicious actors to inject crafted frames that disrupt normal network operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it affects the fundamental reliability and availability of wireless network services within enterprise environments. When exploited, the EAPoL logoff attack can cause cascading failures in wireless connectivity, affecting multiple users simultaneously and potentially disrupting critical business operations that depend on wireless infrastructure. The attack requires minimal privileges to execute and can be performed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in environments where wireless networks serve as primary communication channels. Network administrators may experience difficulties in diagnosing the root cause of connection drops, as the symptoms appear as random disconnections rather than systematic failures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper frame validation mechanisms and enhancing the state management of EAPoL processing within the wireless infrastructure. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Cisco UWN Solution version 7.0.98.0 or later, which contains patches addressing the EAPoL logoff validation issues. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of EAPoL-Logoff frames and establish rate limiting mechanisms to prevent abuse of the authentication protocol. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in authentication systems, and represents a specific implementation weakness in the EAPoL protocol handling that can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.002, which covers network denial of service attacks. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access control lists can help limit the scope of potential exploitation while maintaining network availability for legitimate users.