CVE-2013-1210 in NX-OS
Summary
by MITRE
Array index error in the Virtual Ethernet Module (VEM) kernel driver for VMware ESXi in Cisco NX-OS on the Nexus 1000V, when STUN debugging is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (ESXi crash and purple screen of death) by sending crafted STUN packets to a VEM, aka Bug ID CSCud14825.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-1210 represents a critical array index error within the Virtual Ethernet Module (VEM) kernel driver component of VMware ESXi systems running on Cisco NX-OS platforms. This flaw specifically manifests when the STUN debugging feature is enabled, creating a condition where remote attackers can exploit the system through crafted STUN packets to trigger a complete system crash. The vulnerability affects Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch appliances that utilize VMware ESXi as their underlying hypervisor platform, making it particularly concerning for enterprise data centers that rely on these virtualization technologies for network infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper bounds checking within the VEM kernel driver's handling of STUN protocol messages. When STUN debugging is enabled, the driver processes incoming STUN packets without adequate validation of array indices used for packet parsing operations. This array index error creates a condition where maliciously crafted STUN packets can cause the kernel driver to access memory locations outside the intended array boundaries, leading to memory corruption and subsequent system instability. The vulnerability maps to CWE-129, which specifically addresses improper validation of array indices, and can be classified under the broader category of buffer overflow conditions that affect kernel-mode drivers. The attack vector requires only network access to the affected system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and immediate, as successful exploitation results in complete system crashes of VMware ESXi hosts running the vulnerable VEM module. The crash manifests as a purple screen of death, which is a distinctive Windows kernel crash screen that appears when the system encounters a critical error that cannot be recovered from. In enterprise environments, this can lead to significant service disruption as virtual machines hosted on the affected ESXi systems become unavailable, potentially affecting multiple applications and services that depend on the virtualized infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the stability of the entire virtualization platform, as ESXi hosts may require manual restart to recover from the crash, resulting in service downtime that can span from minutes to hours depending on the recovery procedures in place.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by Cisco and VMware, as well as operational controls to prevent exploitation. Organizations should disable STUN debugging functionality on affected systems when it is not actively required for troubleshooting purposes, as this removes the attack surface that enables the vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit network access to systems running the vulnerable VEM module, particularly restricting STUN protocol traffic from untrusted sources. System administrators should also monitor for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on crafted STUN packets targeting this specific vulnerability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability represents a privilege escalation and denial of service technique that could be leveraged by threat actors to disrupt network services and potentially gain further access to the virtualized environment. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in kernel drivers and the need for comprehensive security testing of virtualization components that operate at the system level.