CVE-2012-3051 in NX-OS
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco NX-OS 5.2 and 6.1 on Nexus 7000 series switches allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process crash or packet loss) via a large number of ARP packets, aka Bug ID CSCtr44822.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3051 affects Cisco NX-OS software versions 5.2 and 6.1 running on Nexus 7000 series switches, representing a significant denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely. This flaw manifests when the network switch receives an excessive volume of Address Resolution Protocol packets, leading to process crashes or substantial packet loss within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability was catalogued under Cisco Bug ID CSCtr44822, highlighting its impact on enterprise network operations and the potential for widespread service disruption across critical network segments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient input validation and resource management within the ARP processing module of the NX-OS software. When the switch encounters a large number of ARP packets in a short timeframe, the system fails to properly handle the packet flow, resulting in memory allocation issues and process instability. This weakness specifically targets the switch's ability to manage address resolution requests and responses, which are fundamental components of network communication protocols. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling mechanisms and inadequate traffic rate limiting capabilities within the switch's operating system, allowing malicious actors to overwhelm the system through crafted ARP packet flooding attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting entire network segments that rely on the affected Nexus 7000 switches for core routing and switching functions. Network administrators may experience complete loss of connectivity for devices connected to the impacted switch ports, leading to cascading failures throughout the network infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can initiate the attack from external network locations. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499.004 technique for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage network infrastructure weaknesses to disrupt service availability. Organizations may face extended downtime periods while implementing patches and recovery procedures, with potential financial impacts from service interruptions and security remediation efforts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3051 should include immediate deployment of Cisco's official security patches and updates to NX-OS software versions that address the ARP processing flaw. Network administrators should implement rate limiting and access control lists to restrict ARP packet traffic flows, preventing excessive packet volumes from overwhelming switch resources. The implementation of network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect abnormal ARP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling unnecessary ARP functionality on affected switches when possible, following the principle of least privilege in network security management. Compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE database under CWE-129 for improper input validation provides a framework for understanding and addressing the underlying security weaknesses that contribute to such vulnerabilities. Regular network security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in network infrastructure components, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar remote denial of service attacks.