CVE-2010-4354 in Vpn 3080 Concentrator
Summary
by MITRE
The remote-access IPSec VPN implementation on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices, PIX Security Appliances 500 series devices, and VPN Concentrators 3000 series devices responds to an Aggressive Mode IKE Phase I message only when the group name is configured on the device, which allows remote attackers to enumerate valid group names via a series of IKE negotiation attempts, aka Bug ID CSCtj96108, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-2025.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4354 affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series, PIX Security Appliances 500 series, and VPN Concentrators 3000 series devices that implement remote-access IPSec VPN functionality. This weakness resides in the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol implementation, specifically within the Aggressive Mode IKE Phase I message handling mechanism. The flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that undermines the security posture of these network devices by enabling unauthorized enumeration of valid group names through systematic network probing.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when these Cisco devices process Aggressive Mode IKE Phase I messages. Normally, the IKE protocol should respond to all valid negotiation attempts regardless of whether the specified group name exists on the device. However, the vulnerable implementation only responds to these messages when a matching group name is configured locally, creating a timing difference that can be exploited by remote attackers. This behavior creates a side-channel information leak where attackers can distinguish between valid and invalid group names based on response patterns during the IKE negotiation process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to perform group name enumeration without requiring authentication or prior access to the network. Attackers can systematically send multiple IKE Phase I messages with different group names and observe response behavior to determine which group names are valid on the target device. This enumeration capability provides attackers with valuable information that can be used in subsequent attacks, particularly when combined with other reconnaissance techniques. The vulnerability essentially provides an automated method for attackers to map valid group configurations, which may contain sensitive information about network structure and security policies.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-203: "Information Exposure Through Discrepancy" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001: "Account Discovery: Local Account" as it enables attackers to discover valid account/group identifiers through response discrepancies. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1592.001: "Resource Development: Exploitation for Client Execution" since it provides reconnaissance capabilities that can lead to more sophisticated attacks. Network reconnaissance tools can automate this enumeration process, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple group names are configured for different user sets or security zones.
The recommended mitigations include implementing proper access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure to this vulnerability, configuring the devices to use Main Mode instead of Aggressive Mode when possible, and applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco. Network administrators should also implement rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms to prevent automated enumeration attempts, along with monitoring and logging of IKE negotiation activities to detect suspicious patterns. Additionally, organizations should regularly audit their IKE configuration settings and ensure that only necessary group names are configured on production devices to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of consistent security implementations in cryptographic protocols where timing discrepancies can inadvertently leak sensitive information.