CVE-2013-3411 in IDSM-2
Summary
by MITRE
The IDSM-2 drivers in Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) Software on Cisco Catalyst 6500 devices with an IDSM-2 module allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device hang) via malformed IPv4 TCP packets, aka Bug ID CSCuh27460.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-3411 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Cisco's Intrusion Prevention System software architecture. This issue specifically affects Cisco Catalyst 6500 series switches that are equipped with IDSM-2 (Intrusion Detection System Module 2) hardware modules. The vulnerability manifests when these network security appliances process malformed IPv4 TCP packets, causing the device to become unresponsive and effectively hang. This represents a significant operational risk for organizations relying on these devices for network security monitoring and threat detection.
The technical flaw resides in the IDSM-2 drivers responsible for processing network traffic within the Cisco IPS software stack. When these drivers encounter malformed TCP packets that do not conform to standard IPv4 protocol specifications, they fail to properly handle the packet structure and trigger a system hang condition. This behavior falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and specifically relates to improper handling of malformed network packets. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read or parsing error in the network protocol handling code where the system does not adequately validate packet headers before processing them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it affects the core security infrastructure of network environments. Organizations utilizing Cisco Catalyst 6500 switches with IDSM-2 modules face the risk of complete network security monitoring failure when attackers exploit this weakness. The device hang condition effectively renders the intrusion detection capabilities useless, leaving the network exposed to threats that would otherwise be detected and mitigated by the IPS system. This creates a dangerous situation where network security is compromised through a denial of service attack that targets the very system designed to protect against such threats. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch management and network segmentation approaches. Cisco released specific software updates addressing this issue through their security advisory process, and organizations must prioritize applying these patches to maintain system integrity. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect early signs of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of network segmentation and implementing multiple layers of security controls to prevent a single point of failure in network security infrastructure. Organizations should consider implementing rate limiting and packet filtering rules at network boundaries to reduce the impact of malformed packet attacks while awaiting patch deployment.