CVE-2010-3034 in Wireless LAN Controller Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) software, possibly 6.0.x or possibly 4.1 through 6.0.x, allows remote attackers to bypass ACLs in the controller CPU, and consequently send network traffic to unintended segments or devices, via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-0575.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3034 affects Cisco Wireless LAN Controller software versions 4.1 through 6.0.x, including the 6.0.x series, presenting a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to circumvent access control lists within the controller's central processing unit. This issue represents a distinct vulnerability from CVE-2010-0575, indicating that the security weakness operates through different mechanisms and attack vectors. The flaw specifically targets the controller's CPU processing capabilities, allowing unauthorized network traffic to traverse segments that should be restricted by configured access control policies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the access control enforcement mechanisms within the Cisco WLC software architecture. When the controller processes network traffic, it should enforce strict access control lists that prevent communication between different network segments or devices based on predefined security policies. However, this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass these protective measures at the CPU level, enabling them to inject or redirect traffic to unintended network destinations. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack could potentially occur through multiple pathways, including malformed packets, specific protocol interactions, or other network communication anomalies that exploit the underlying software implementation flaw.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of this vulnerability is severe as it fundamentally undermines the network segmentation capabilities that wireless controllers are designed to provide. Organizations relying on Cisco WLC for wireless network management face significant risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as attackers could gain access to network segments that should remain isolated from unauthorized users. The ability to send network traffic to unintended segments creates opportunities for lateral movement within the network, data exfiltration, and potential compromise of sensitive systems that are typically protected by the wireless controller's access control policies. This vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with elevated privileges that bypass the intended security boundaries of the wireless infrastructure.
The security implications extend beyond simple access control bypass to encompass broader network integrity concerns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and represents a critical weakness in the controller's privilege enforcement system. Network administrators who depend on Cisco WLC for maintaining secure wireless environments must recognize that this vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access to network resources that should be protected by the controller's ACL enforcement. The potential for this vulnerability to be exploited remotely without requiring local access or credentials makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where wireless networks provide access to critical business systems and sensitive data repositories.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, reviewing and strengthening wireless network access control policies, and monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation strategies should be enhanced to include additional layers of protection beyond the wireless controller's ACL enforcement, and security teams should conduct thorough network assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred during the vulnerability's active period. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the network infrastructure components that control access between different network segments.