CVE-2012-1312 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
The MACE feature in Cisco IOS 15.1 and 15.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted transit traffic, aka Bug IDs CSCtq64987 and CSCtu57226.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1312 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Cisco IOS operating systems version 15.1 and 15.2. This issue specifically affects the MACE (Multi-Access Content Engine) feature which is designed to provide enhanced network services and content processing capabilities. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes crafted transit traffic that exploits a flaw in how the MACE module handles certain packet structures, ultimately leading to unauthorized device reloads and complete service disruption. This weakness impacts a wide range of Cisco networking equipment including routers and switches that implement the MACE functionality, making it particularly concerning for enterprise and service provider networks where continuous uptime is critical.
The technical flaw lies in the improper handling of specific packet formats within the MACE processing pipeline of Cisco IOS. When maliciously crafted traffic traverses the device and triggers the MACE feature, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming packet data before processing. This validation failure creates a condition where the device becomes vulnerable to malformed packet sequences that cause the MACE module to crash and subsequently restart the entire IOS process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it accessible to any attacker who can send traffic to the affected device. The flaw essentially creates a path for an attacker to induce a controlled restart of the network device through carefully constructed network packets that exploit the processing logic within the MACE module.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network stability and availability. When an affected Cisco device experiences a reload due to this vulnerability, it can result in temporary network outages that may last from several minutes to hours depending on the device configuration and network topology. For large enterprise networks or service provider infrastructures, such disruptions can cascade across multiple network segments and affect critical business operations. The vulnerability also poses significant challenges for network administrators who must balance the need for immediate patching against potential service interruptions during maintenance windows. Additionally, the remote exploitability means that attackers can potentially use this vulnerability to conduct coordinated attacks against multiple devices simultaneously, amplifying the impact of individual attacks and making detection more difficult.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches that address the MACE processing flaw, configuring access control lists to filter or drop suspicious traffic patterns, and monitoring network logs for unusual traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit the potential impact of exploitation to specific network segments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify the specific packet patterns associated with this vulnerability and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular network audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that all affected devices have been properly updated and that no residual vulnerabilities remain in the network infrastructure.