CVE-2012-0358 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Cisco Port Forwarder ActiveX control in cscopf.ocx, as distributed through the Clientless VPN feature on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices with software 7.0 through 7.2 before 7.2(5.6), 8.0 before 8.0(5.26), 8.1 before 8.1(2.53), 8.2 before 8.2(5.18), 8.3 before 8.3(2.28), 8.2 before 8.4(2.16), and 8.6 before 8.6(1.1), allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCtr00165.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-0358 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Cisco Port Forwarder ActiveX control component known as cscopf.ocx. This vulnerability specifically affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices operating with software versions ranging from 7.0 through 7.2 before 7.2(5.6), 8.0 before 8.0(5.26), 8.1 before 8.1(2.53), 8.2 before 8.2(5.18), 8.3 before 8.3(2.28), 8.2 before 8.4(2.16), and 8.6 before 8.6(1.1). The flaw exists within the Clientless VPN feature implementation, which allows remote attackers to exploit this weakness through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it enables remote code execution, representing a severe compromise of system integrity and confidentiality.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability occurs within the ActiveX control's handling of input data from the Clientless VPN feature. When users connect to Cisco ASA devices through the web-based interface, the cscopf.ocx control processes user-supplied parameters that are not properly validated or bounds-checked. This lack of input sanitization creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious payloads that exceed the allocated buffer space, leading to memory corruption and potential code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires remote access through the web interface of the affected ASA devices, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged without requiring physical presence or local access to the network infrastructure. The attack methodology aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities for remote code execution through web-based interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system compromise, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise network security. Organizations utilizing affected Cisco ASA devices face potential unauthorized access to their network infrastructure, which could lead to data breaches, privilege escalation, and complete system takeover. The vulnerability's presence in multiple software versions across the ASA 5500 series creates a widespread risk, affecting numerous enterprise deployments that rely on Cisco's security appliances for network protection. Network administrators must consider the implications of this vulnerability on their overall security posture, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with persistent access to internal network resources and potentially enable lateral movement throughout the enterprise infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the target system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected device and its network connectivity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0358 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches from Cisco, specifically targeting the affected software versions mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, particularly focusing on the web-based management interfaces that provide access to the vulnerable ActiveX control. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and security teams should consider disabling unnecessary web-based features until proper patches are deployed. The implementation of intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection capabilities can help identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected Cisco ASA devices within their network infrastructure and develop incident response procedures specifically addressing potential exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability. The remediation process should include not only patching the affected software but also implementing proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other network components.