CVE-2012-3058 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices, and the ASA Services Module (ASASM) in Cisco Catalyst 6500 series devices, with software 8.4 before 8.4(4.1), 8.5 before 8.5(1.11), and 8.6 before 8.6(1.3) allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via IPv6 transit traffic that triggers syslog message 110003, aka Bug ID CSCua27134.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3058 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices and the ASA Services Module (ASASM) in Cisco Catalyst 6500 series devices. This weakness specifically impacts software versions prior to 8.4(4.1), 8.5(1.11), and 8.6(1.3), creating a persistent security risk for organizations relying on these network security appliances. The vulnerability manifests through IPv6 transit traffic that triggers a specific syslog message 110003, ultimately leading to complete device reloads and service disruption. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly routine network traffic processing can be exploited to create catastrophic system failures, highlighting the importance of robust input validation and error handling in network security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the affected Cisco ASA devices process IPv6 transit traffic, specifically when handling certain packet structures that generate syslog message 110003. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input ranges, and represents a classic case of insufficient input sanitization. The device's failure to properly validate IPv6 packet parameters during transit processing creates a condition where malicious or malformed IPv6 traffic can trigger an internal error state that results in system reboot. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, exploiting weaknesses in the ASA's IPv6 processing engine and demonstrates how protocol-specific implementation flaws can lead to complete system compromise without requiring authentication or advanced exploitation techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to network availability and business continuity for organizations utilizing affected Cisco ASA devices. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can trigger device reloads from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for perimeter security devices that are critical to network defense. The denial of service condition effectively renders the affected security appliances non-operational until manual intervention or automatic recovery occurs, potentially leaving networks exposed to other threats during the downtime period. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure devices.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the relevant software patches provided by Cisco to address the specific versions affected by this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect anomalous IPv6 traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security firmware and implementing comprehensive network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of such attacks. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and recovery capabilities for similar network infrastructure vulnerabilities. Network security teams should prioritize patch management processes for critical infrastructure devices and maintain detailed inventory records of all affected appliances to facilitate timely remediation efforts and reduce overall risk exposure.