CVE-2012-3901 in IPS 4270
Summary
by MITRE
The updateTime function in sensorApp on Cisco IPS 4200 series sensors 7.0 and 7.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process crash and traffic-inspection outage) via network traffic, aka Bug ID CSCta96144.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3901 affects Cisco IPS 4200 series sensors operating on software versions 7.0 and 7.1, specifically within the sensorApp component. This flaw resides in the updateTime function which is responsible for managing time synchronization and related operations within the intrusion prevention system. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack against the affected network security infrastructure. The issue manifests when maliciously crafted network traffic is processed by the sensorApp, causing the system to crash and resulting in complete traffic inspection outages that can severely impact network security monitoring capabilities.
The technical flaw in the updateTime function stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms when processing time-related data structures. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted network packets that trigger an improper handling of time update requests within the sensorApp module. This improper handling leads to memory corruption or stack overflow conditions that ultimately cause the process to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is a common class of memory safety issues that can be exploited to crash applications or potentially execute arbitrary code. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely over the network, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass significant network security implications. When the sensorApp process crashes, the entire intrusion prevention system becomes non-functional, leaving the network exposed to threats that would normally be detected and blocked by the IPS. The traffic-inspection outage means that malicious network traffic can pass through the network undetected, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistence, exfiltrate data, or conduct further attacks without detection. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad, specifically compromising availability and integrity of the security infrastructure, while also potentially affecting confidentiality if attackers can leverage the outage to avoid detection. Organizations relying on Cisco IPS 4200 series sensors for network protection face severe operational risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as it essentially disables their primary intrusion detection and prevention capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3901 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Cisco's security updates and firmware releases addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected sensors to untrusted networks, following the principle of least privilege as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Network administrators should monitor for unusual traffic patterns or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and implement intrusion detection systems to detect potential attack signatures related to this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability exploitation under T1499.004 - Endpoint Denial of Service, where adversaries target system resources to prevent normal operations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing redundant security monitoring solutions to maintain visibility even when primary IPS systems are compromised, ensuring continuous network protection and compliance with security standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST SP 800-53.