CVE-2013-7306 in Bigiron
Summary
by MITRE
The OSPF implementation on Brocade routers does not consider the possibility of duplicate Link State ID values in Link State Advertisement (LSA) 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 crafted LSA packet, a related issue to CVE-2013-0149.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7306 affects the Open Shortest Path First routing protocol implementation within Brocade network infrastructure devices. This issue resides in the Link State Advertisement processing mechanism where the OSPF daemon fails to properly validate the uniqueness of Link State ID values before executing database operations. The flaw represents a critical design oversight in the routing protocol implementation that directly impacts network stability and security posture. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core of routing protocol functionality where malformed packet processing can cascade into broader network disruption. This weakness enables adversaries to manipulate the routing database through carefully crafted malicious LSAs that exploit the lack of proper duplicate detection mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends a specially constructed LSA packet containing a duplicate Link State ID value to a vulnerable Brocade router. The router's OSPF implementation processes these packets without first verifying that the Link State ID is unique within the current database context. This failure allows the attacker to either trigger a denial of service condition by causing the routing daemon to crash or enter an inconsistent state, or alternatively to extract sensitive routing information through information disclosure mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple disruption as it can lead to routing table corruption and potential network partitioning. This issue shares similarities with CVE-2013-0149, indicating a broader pattern of insufficient input validation within Brocade's OSPF implementations. The flaw operates at the network layer where routing protocol packets are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect network convergence and overall routing stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests as significant disruption to network services and potential complete routing failures across affected Brocade deployments. Network administrators may experience unexpected routing table updates, routing loops, or complete routing protocol instability that can result in service degradation or complete network outages. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these devices from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or authentication credentials. This characteristic transforms what might otherwise be a localized network issue into a potential widespread security incident. The denial of service aspect can be particularly devastating in mission-critical environments where network availability is paramount, while the information disclosure component can provide attackers with valuable routing topology information that could be leveraged for further attacks. Organizations utilizing Brocade routers in production environments face substantial risk exposure from this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7306 should focus on immediate implementation of network access controls and monitoring of OSPF traffic to detect anomalous LSA packet patterns. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the attack surface by restricting OSPF neighbor relationships to trusted networks only. Device firmware updates from Brocade addressing this specific vulnerability should be prioritized, as they typically include enhanced input validation and duplicate detection mechanisms. Network administrators should implement robust monitoring solutions that can detect unusual routing behavior or packet processing anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of OSPF authentication mechanisms can provide additional protection by ensuring that only authenticated neighbors can participate in the routing protocol exchange. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.007 for Defense Evasion and T1498 for Network Denial of Service, while the information disclosure aspect maps to T1567.002 for Exfiltration Over Web Service. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to detect OSPF protocol anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts. Compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 becomes critical when addressing this type of vulnerability, as proper patch management and network monitoring are essential controls.