CVE-2014-0653 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
The Identity Firewall (IDFW) functionality in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software allows remote attackers to trigger authentication-state modifications via a crafted NetBIOS logout probe response, aka Bug ID CSCuj45340.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0653 affects the Identity Firewall (IDFW) functionality within Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software, representing a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate authentication states through crafted network traffic. This issue specifically targets the NetBIOS logout probe response mechanism, creating a pathway for unauthorized modifications to the authentication state of connected devices. The vulnerability resides in the ASA software's handling of NetBIOS protocol communications, particularly when processing logout probe responses that are crafted to exploit the IDFW functionality.
The technical flaw manifests when the ASA software processes a specially crafted NetBIOS logout probe response that triggers an unexpected behavior in the authentication state management system. This occurs because the IDFW component fails to properly validate incoming NetBIOS logout probe responses, allowing malicious actors to construct responses that appear legitimate but contain crafted payloads designed to manipulate the authentication state. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow or improper input validation issue that falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though it specifically affects authentication state management rather than direct memory corruption. The flaw allows an attacker to potentially bypass authentication mechanisms or manipulate existing authentication sessions without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides remote attackers with the capability to modify authentication states within the ASA environment, potentially enabling unauthorized access to network resources. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt authentication processes, manipulate user sessions, or potentially gain elevated privileges within the network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the network or direct network connection to the ASA device to exploit this vulnerability. This makes the attack surface significantly broader and increases the risk to organizations relying on ASA devices for network security. The vulnerability can affect the integrity and availability of authentication services, potentially leading to unauthorized network access and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0653 should focus on implementing immediate software updates from Cisco to address the specific vulnerability in the IDFW functionality. Organizations should also consider disabling the IDFW feature if it is not essential for their network operations, as this would eliminate the attack vector entirely. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact if the vulnerability is exploited, while monitoring for unusual NetBIOS traffic patterns can aid in early detection of attempted exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential harvesting through network protocols, and organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous authentication state modifications. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any similar weaknesses in network infrastructure components that could be exploited using similar techniques.