CVE-2012-0354 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
The Threat Detection feature on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices, and the ASA Services Module (ASASM) in Cisco Catalyst 6500 series devices, with software 8.0 through 8.2 before 8.2(5.20), 8.3 before 8.3(2.29), 8.4 before 8.4(3), 8.5 before 8.5(1.6), and 8.6 before 8.6(1.1) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via (1) IPv4 or (2) IPv6 packets that trigger a shun event, aka Bug ID CSCtw35765.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-0354 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Cisco's Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) platform, specifically affecting the Threat Detection feature implementation. This vulnerability impacts the 5500 series ASA devices and the ASA Services Module (ASASM) installed in Cisco Catalyst 6500 series devices. The flaw exists in software versions ranging from 8.0 through 8.2 before 8.2(5.20), 8.3 before 8.3(2.29), 8.4 before 8.4(3), 8.5 before 8.5(1.6), and 8.6 before 8.6(1.1). The vulnerability stems from improper handling of network packets within the threat detection mechanism, creating a condition where specially crafted IPv4 or IPv6 packets can trigger a cascading failure that ultimately results in device system reload.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the shun event mechanism within the Threat Detection feature. When an attacker sends specifically crafted IPv4 or IPv6 packets to the affected devices, these packets trigger the threat detection system to initiate a shun event, which is designed to block malicious traffic. However, the flaw lies in the improper validation and handling of these packets, causing the system to enter an unstable state that eventually leads to a complete device reload. This behavior represents a classic example of a resource exhaustion or state machine failure that can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered by any remote attacker with access to the network, making it particularly dangerous in operational environments where continuous availability is critical.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network infrastructure security and availability. The device reload caused by this vulnerability effectively renders the affected ASA appliance or ASASM module unavailable for its intended security functions, creating potential security gaps in network protection. Organizations relying on these devices for firewall, intrusion prevention, or network access control may experience service disruption that could last from several minutes to hours depending on the recovery process. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate the denial of service condition from outside the network perimeter, potentially allowing for coordinated attacks against multiple devices. This flaw directly impacts the CIA triad, specifically compromising availability and potentially integrity, as the device may not properly process security events after recovery.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1498, which covers network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates that address this specific vulnerability. Network administrators should consider implementing access control lists to filter potentially malicious traffic and monitor for unusual patterns of shun events. Additionally, organizations should maintain detailed incident response procedures that account for device reload scenarios and ensure proper backup and recovery mechanisms are in place. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security patch management and continuous monitoring of network security devices, as it demonstrates how seemingly routine threat detection features can become attack vectors when not properly validated against crafted inputs.