CVE-2012-0359 in Cius Software
Summary
by MITRE
The Cisco Cius with software before 9.2(1) SR2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device crash or hang) via malformed network traffic, aka Bug ID CSCto71445.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0359 affects the Cisco Cius tablet device running software versions prior to 9.2(1) SR2, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors. This flaw resides within the network processing capabilities of the device, specifically in how it handles incoming network packets that do not conform to expected protocols or structures. The vulnerability was catalogued under Cisco bug ID CSCto71445, highlighting its classification as a significant security concern that impacts the operational integrity of affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the network stack of the Cisco Cius device. When malformed network traffic is received, the device fails to properly sanitize or reject these abnormal packets, causing the system to enter an unstable state that results in either a complete device crash or a system hang that renders the device non-operational. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-131, Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size, as the device does not adequately protect against malformed data that could cause memory corruption or resource exhaustion. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow scenario where improper handling of network data leads to system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco Cius devices for business operations. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger device failures from outside the network perimeter, potentially causing productivity losses, data access interruptions, and requiring immediate technician intervention to restore device functionality. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the device crash could occur during critical business operations, leading to potential data loss or unavailability of essential communication tools. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, and T1566.001, Phishing via Social Engineering, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability as part of a broader attack campaign to compromise device availability.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates, specifically the 9.2(1) SR2 software release that addresses this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect abnormal network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device administrators should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to identify and alert on malformed traffic that could be targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process must include thorough testing of updated firmware in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure compatibility with existing network infrastructure and business applications.