CVE-2013-0149 in Sun Blade 6000
Summary
by MITRE
The OSPF implementation in Cisco IOS 12.0 through 12.4 and 15.0 through 15.3, IOS-XE 2.x through 3.9.xS, ASA and PIX 7.x through 9.1, FWSM, NX-OS, and StarOS before 14.0.50488 does not properly validate Link State Advertisement (LSA) type 1 packets before performing operations on the LSA database, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (routing disruption) or obtain sensitive packet information via a (1) unicast or (2) multicast packet, aka Bug IDs CSCug34485, CSCug34469, CSCug39762, CSCug63304, and CSCug39795.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-0149 represents a critical flaw in the Open Shortest Path First routing protocol implementation across multiple Cisco network operating systems and platforms. This issue affects a broad range of Cisco products including IOS versions 12.0 through 12.4 and 15.0 through 15.3, IOS-XE versions 2.x through 3.9.xS, ASA and PIX versions 7.x through 9.1, FWSM, NX-OS, and StarOS before 14.0.50488. The vulnerability specifically targets the validation mechanisms within the Link State Advertisement type 1 packet processing, which forms the foundation of OSPF routing table updates and network topology maintenance.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation of LSA type 1 packets within the OSPF implementation. When these packets are received through either unicast or multicast transmission methods, the system fails to properly verify the packet structure and content before proceeding with database operations. This validation gap creates an opportunity for remote attackers to craft malicious packets that, when processed, can trigger unexpected behavior in the routing protocol engine. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to properly validate packet headers, sequence numbers, and other critical fields that should be checked before database modifications occur.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially expose sensitive routing information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to cause routing disruption across affected networks, leading to intermittent connectivity issues and potential network partitioning. In some cases, the improper packet handling may result in information disclosure, where attackers could extract sensitive packet data that would normally remain protected within the routing protocol's internal processing mechanisms. This creates both availability and confidentiality risks for affected organizations relying on OSPF for network routing.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how insufficient validation can lead to severe security consequences. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1498, "Network Denial of Service," and potentially T1566, "Phishing," if attackers leverage the information disclosure aspect to gather intelligence. The broad scope of affected platforms means that organizations with diverse network infrastructures face significant risk, as any device running an affected version could become a target for exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates, which address the validation gaps in LSA packet processing. Network segmentation strategies can help limit the potential impact by isolating affected devices from critical network segments. Monitoring for unusual OSPF packet patterns and implementing access control lists to restrict OSPF traffic sources can provide additional defense layers. Regular vulnerability assessments and network configuration reviews should be conducted to ensure that all affected devices are properly updated and that no legacy configurations remain that could expose the network to this vulnerability.