CVE-2012-5010 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
ASA 5515-X Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.4.x before 9.4.1 Interim, 9.2.x before 9.2.4 Interim, ASA 5510 Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 8.4.x before 8.4.7 Interim, 8.2.x before 8.2.5 Interim, 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5555-X Adaptive Security Appliance ASA for Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Device Package 1.2.4.x before 1.2.4.8, ASA 5512-X Adaptive Security Appliance ASA for Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Device Package 1.2.4.x before 1.2.4.8, ASA 5520 Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 8.2.x before 8.2.5 Interim, 8.4.x before 8.4.7 Interim, 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5505 Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.2.x before 9.2.4 Interim, 8.4.x before 8.4.7 Interim, 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5525-X Adaptive Security Appliance ASA for Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Device Package 1.2.4.x before 1.2.4.8, ASA 5512-X Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.4.x before 9.4.1 Interim, 9.2.x before 9.2.4 Interim or 9.2.4.SMP, 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5545-X Adaptive Security Appliance ASA for Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Device Package 1.2.4.x before 1.2.4.8, ASA 5585-X Adaptive Security Appliance ASA for Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Device Package 1.2.4.x before 1.2.4.8, ASA 5540 Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 8.2.x before 8.2.5 Interim, 8.4.x before 8.4.7 Interim, 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5515-X Adaptive Security Appliance ASA for Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) Device Package 1.2.4.x before 1.2.4.8, ASA 5555-X Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.2.x before 9.2.4 Interim or 9.2.4.SMP, 9.4.x before 9.4.1 Interim, 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5580 Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5585-X Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.2.x before 9.2.4 Interim, 9.4.x before 9.4.1 Interim, ASA 5525-X Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.4.x before 9.4.1 Interim, 9.2.x before 9.2.4 Interim or 9.2.4.SMP, 9.1.x before 9.1.6 Interim, ASA 5545-X Adaptive Security Appliance Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software 9.4.x before 9.4.1 Interim, 9.2.x before 9.2.4 Interim or 9.2.4.SMP. 9.1.x before 9.1.6 ASA does not check the source of the ARP request or GARP packets for addresses it performs NAT translation for under unspecified conditions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-5010 represents a significant security flaw in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software across multiple device models and software versions. This issue affects ASA 5515-X, 5510, 5555-X, 5520, 5505, 5525-X, 5545-X, 5540, 5585-X, 5580, and various ACI device packages running specific software versions. The vulnerability stems from the ASA's failure to properly validate the source of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests or Generic ARP (GARP) packets when handling Network Address Translation (NAT) operations. This flaw exists under unspecified conditions and creates a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors within the network. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, which relates to improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS, as it could enable attackers to manipulate network traffic through ARP spoofing techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to potentially perform ARP cache poisoning or spoofing attacks against the ASA device. When the ASA performs NAT translation for specific IP addresses, it should validate that ARP requests or GARP packets originate from legitimate sources. However, the flawed implementation fails to perform this validation, enabling attackers to inject false ARP information into the ASA's ARP table. This can result in the ASA redirecting traffic to malicious addresses or allowing unauthorized access to network resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple ASA models and software versions, indicating a widespread issue that could impact numerous enterprise networks. The lack of source validation for ARP/GARP packets during NAT operations creates a persistent security gap that could be leveraged for man-in-the-middle attacks, traffic interception, or network disruption. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple access control issues as it fundamentally undermines the integrity of the network's address resolution mechanism.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to compromise network security by manipulating the ASA's routing decisions and NAT mappings. The potential consequences include unauthorized network access, data interception, and disruption of legitimate network services. Attackers could exploit this weakness to redirect traffic through malicious systems, potentially leading to data breaches or service availability issues. The vulnerability's presence across multiple ASA device families and software versions means that organizations with diverse network infrastructures face similar risks, requiring coordinated patch management efforts. Network administrators may observe unusual traffic patterns or failed connections as indicators of exploitation attempts. The attack vector is particularly relevant in environments where the ASA serves as a critical network gateway or firewall, as compromise of the device could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to internal network resources. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering, as attackers could use the compromised ASA to facilitate further attacks on network credentials.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the relevant software updates provided by Cisco. The affected software versions require patches to address the ARP validation issue, with specific interim releases available for each affected version. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential ARP spoofing activities, particularly in areas where the ASA handles critical NAT operations. Implementing additional network access controls and monitoring for unusual ARP traffic patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider temporarily disabling or restricting NAT rules that are not immediately critical to network operations. The vulnerability's impact is further mitigated through proper network design practices, including the implementation of ARP inspection mechanisms and network access control lists. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected ASA devices and ensure complete patch deployment across their network infrastructure. Regular network monitoring and security auditing should be maintained to detect any signs of exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include reviewing network access controls and implementing additional layers of defense to protect against similar vulnerabilities in other network components. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper source validation in network security devices and the critical need for timely software updates to address emerging threats.