CVE-2013-1144 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Memory leak in the IKEv1 implementation in Cisco IOS 15.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via unspecified (1) IPv4 or (2) IPv6 IKE packets, aka Bug ID CSCth81055.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1144 represents a critical memory leak flaw within Cisco IOS version 15.1's implementation of the Internet Key Exchange version 1 protocol. This weakness specifically affects the IKEv1 processing mechanism that handles both IPv4 and IPv6 packets, creating a significant operational risk for network infrastructure. The vulnerability manifests when the system receives specially crafted IKE packets that trigger improper memory management during the key exchange process, leading to progressive memory consumption that ultimately results in system instability.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate memory handling within the IKEv1 parser, where the system fails to properly release allocated memory resources after processing certain packet structures. This memory leak occurs during the initial phase of IKE negotiation, particularly when processing Phase 1 messages that establish the security association between communicating parties. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-401 as a failure to release memory resources, which directly aligns with the denial of service characteristics observed in this exploit. Attackers can leverage this weakness by sending specifically constructed IKE packets that cause the router to continuously allocate memory without proper deallocation, gradually exhausting available system resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to network availability and stability, particularly in environments where Cisco routers serve as critical infrastructure components for secure communications. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the memory consumption process can occur gradually over time, making detection difficult until the system reaches critical resource exhaustion. Network administrators may observe increasing memory usage patterns, system slowdowns, and eventual service interruptions that can affect VPN connectivity, remote access capabilities, and overall network performance. The vulnerability affects devices running Cisco IOS 15.1, making it particularly concerning for organizations that have not yet migrated to more recent software versions.
The attack surface for this vulnerability includes any network infrastructure that utilizes IKEv1 for VPN establishment, particularly in enterprise environments where remote access and site-to-site connections depend on secure key exchange mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage system resource exhaustion to disrupt network availability. The exploitability of this vulnerability is relatively straightforward as it requires only the ability to send crafted packets to the affected system, making it accessible to attackers with basic network reconnaissance capabilities. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attackers while awaiting remediation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1144 include immediate deployment of Cisco's security patches and software updates that address the memory leak in the IKEv1 implementation. Network administrators should prioritize patching affected routers and monitoring system memory usage patterns to detect early signs of exploitation. Additional protective measures include implementing access control lists to restrict IKE packet processing, disabling IKEv1 where possible in favor of more secure IKEv2 implementations, and establishing monitoring protocols to track memory consumption on critical network devices. Organizations should also consider network-wide vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems and implement proper incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure continued network stability and functionality.