CVE-2010-4682 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
Memory leak on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices with software before 8.2(3) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by making multiple incorrect LDAP authentication attempts, aka Bug ID CSCtf29867.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4682 represents a critical memory leak issue affecting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices running software versions prior to 8.2(3). This flaw specifically manifests during LDAP authentication processes, where remote attackers can exploit the vulnerability by initiating multiple incorrect LDAP authentication attempts to consume system memory resources. The vulnerability was documented under Cisco Bug ID CSCtf29867 and constitutes a significant threat to network security infrastructure, as it enables adversaries to perform denial of service attacks against critical security appliances. The memory leak occurs within the authentication handling mechanism of the ASA device, where improper memory management during failed LDAP authentication sequences leads to progressive memory consumption without adequate cleanup.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient memory deallocation practices within the ASA software's LDAP authentication module. When multiple incorrect LDAP authentication attempts are made, the system fails to properly release allocated memory segments that were reserved during the authentication process. This memory management failure creates a cumulative effect where each failed authentication attempt consumes additional memory resources, eventually leading to memory exhaustion. The vulnerability operates at the application layer within the ASA's authentication framework, leveraging the inherent design flaw in how the device handles failed authentication requests. The specific nature of this memory leak aligns with CWE-401, which categorizes improper resource deallocation as a fundamental weakness in memory management. The attack vector requires remote access to the network and the ability to perform LDAP authentication requests, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on ASA devices for network security.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4682 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise the availability and reliability of network security infrastructure. When the memory consumption reaches critical levels, the ASA device experiences performance degradation followed by complete system instability and potential crash scenarios. Network administrators may observe gradual performance decline before sudden service outages, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for environments where continuous network security is essential. The memory leak affects the device's ability to process legitimate authentication requests and maintain normal network traffic flow, potentially creating security gaps during the attack period. Organizations utilizing ASA 5500 series devices in mission-critical environments face significant operational risks, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or specialized knowledge of the target system. The attack can be executed from any remote location with network access to the affected ASA device, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4682 primarily focus on implementing software updates and applying the appropriate Cisco security patches. Organizations should immediately upgrade their ASA 5500 series devices to software version 8.2(3) or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the memory leak vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as rate limiting for authentication attempts and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of access control lists and authentication throttling mechanisms can help reduce the effectiveness of potential attacks by limiting the number of authentication attempts from specific sources. Security monitoring solutions should be configured to detect memory usage patterns that indicate potential exploitation of this vulnerability, enabling proactive response measures. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict LDAP access to only necessary systems, reducing the attack surface for this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated software in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility and prevent unintended service disruptions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks and T1566.002 for credential access through network service exploitation, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat and the need for comprehensive defensive measures.