CVE-2014-0655 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
The Identity Firewall (IDFW) functionality in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software allows remote attackers to change the user-cache contents via a replay attack involving crafted RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA) messages, aka Bug ID CSCuj45332.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-0655 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software that specifically affects the Identity Firewall (IDFW) functionality. This issue enables remote attackers to manipulate user authentication and authorization states by exploiting weaknesses in the handling of RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA) messages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows unauthorized modification of user cache contents, potentially leading to privilege escalation and unauthorized access to network resources. The bug identifier CSCuj45332 highlights the specific nature of this flaw within Cisco's internal tracking systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the IDFW module of ASA software. When the system receives crafted RADIUS CoA messages, it fails to properly authenticate or validate the source of these messages, allowing attackers to replay previously valid CoA packets to modify active user sessions. This replay attack capability specifically targets the user cache management system, where session information is stored and maintained. The flaw exists in the cryptographic validation and message integrity checking processes that should prevent unauthorized modifications to active authentication sessions. According to CWE-310, this represents a weakness in cryptographic key handling and message authentication, while the attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1550.002 for use of valid credentials and T1078.002 for additional privileges through valid accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios, as it can enable attackers to manipulate active user sessions and potentially gain elevated privileges within the network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify user access rights, extend session timeouts, or even terminate legitimate user sessions to force re-authentication. This creates a significant risk for enterprises relying on ASA for network security, as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that utilize Cisco ASA with IDFW enabled and RADIUS authentication mechanisms, potentially impacting thousands of enterprise networks globally. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments with extensive remote access requirements.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco that address the specific validation issues in the RADIUS CoA message handling. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual RADIUS traffic patterns and unauthorized session modifications. The implementation of network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability. Security teams should also review and audit existing RADIUS server configurations to ensure proper authentication and authorization controls are in place. According to NIST SP 800-53 security controls, organizations should implement continuous monitoring and access control measures to detect and prevent unauthorized modifications to authentication systems. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper implementation of security controls. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust network access control policies to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical authentication infrastructure.