CVE-2010-4674 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices with software 8.2(4) and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (block exhaustion) via multicast traffic, aka Bug ID CSCtg63992.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4674 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices running software versions 8.2(4) and earlier. This issue manifests through the improper handling of multicast traffic, creating a condition where remote attackers can exploit the system's block exhaustion mechanism to disrupt network operations. The vulnerability was documented under Cisco Bug ID CSCtg63992, highlighting its impact on the device's ability to maintain normal traffic processing capabilities. The flaw specifically targets the ASA's packet processing logic, particularly when encountering malformed or specially crafted multicast packets that trigger unexpected behavior in the device's resource management systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and resource management within the ASA's multicast packet handling routines. When the affected devices receive crafted multicast traffic, the system's internal block allocation mechanisms become overwhelmed or corrupted, leading to exhaustion of available processing resources. This occurs because the device fails to properly validate or limit the processing of multicast packets, allowing attackers to send specifically formatted packets that consume excessive memory or CPU resources. The vulnerability operates at the network layer, where multicast traffic is processed, and affects the device's ability to maintain normal forwarding operations. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length of inputs, and CWE-400, which covers resource exhaustion vulnerabilities. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from outside the network perimeter.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4674 extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting network availability and business continuity for organizations relying on Cisco ASA devices for network security. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause complete denial of service for the affected appliance, rendering it unable to process legitimate network traffic. Network administrators may observe symptoms including increased CPU utilization, memory exhaustion, or complete device unresponsiveness, requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations. The vulnerability affects critical network infrastructure components and can lead to cascading failures if multiple devices in the network are compromised. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1498, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1595, which addresses network infiltration techniques. The attack can be classified as a resource exhaustion attack that targets the device's processing capabilities rather than attempting to exploit other system vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4674 focus primarily on implementing software updates and network-level controls to prevent exploitation. Organizations should immediately upgrade their ASA 5500 series devices to software versions that address this vulnerability, specifically targeting releases after 8.2(4). Cisco released patches and updated software versions that correct the multicast packet handling behavior and implement proper input validation. Network administrators should also consider implementing access control lists or firewall rules that filter or limit multicast traffic to reduce the attack surface. The implementation of rate limiting mechanisms for multicast traffic and monitoring for unusual traffic patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should establish network segmentation strategies to isolate critical systems from potentially compromised network segments. The vulnerability's impact on network availability makes proactive mitigation essential, as reactive measures may not be sufficient to prevent service disruption once exploitation occurs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for this specific vulnerability to ensure complete remediation across all network infrastructure components.