CVE-2014-0704 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
The IGMP implementation on Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) devices 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, 7.0 before 7.0.250.0, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3, when IGMPv3 Snooping is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory over-read and device restart) via a crafted field in an IGMPv3 message, aka Bug ID CSCuh33240.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0704 affects Cisco Wireless LAN Controller devices operating within the 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, and 7.0 through 7.3 software versions, specifically when IGMPv3 Snooping functionality is enabled. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against wireless infrastructure components, potentially disrupting network connectivity for wireless clients. The issue stems from improper input validation within the Internet Group Management Protocol version 3 implementation, which is a core component for managing multicast traffic in wireless networks.
The technical flaw manifests through a memory over-read condition that occurs when the WLC device processes a malformed IGMPv3 message containing crafted fields. This vulnerability operates at the network protocol level and exploits the way the device handles incoming multicast group membership reports. When an attacker sends specifically constructed IGMPv3 packets to the wireless controller, the device's processing routine fails to properly validate the message structure, leading to memory corruption. This memory over-read condition ultimately results in system instability and automatic device restart, effectively causing a denial of service for all wireless clients connected to that controller. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and demonstrates how improper bounds checking in network protocol implementations can lead to system crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the reliability of wireless network infrastructure in enterprise and industrial environments. When a wireless controller becomes unresponsive due to this vulnerability, all wireless clients connected to that controller lose network access, potentially affecting business operations, security monitoring capabilities, and emergency communication systems. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous as it allows adversaries to target wireless infrastructure without requiring physical access or local network credentials. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1499 technique for network denial of service, specifically targeting network infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0704 involve immediate software updates to patched versions of Cisco WLC firmware, specifically versions 7.0.250.0 and later, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 releases that contain the necessary fixes. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of wireless controllers to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include configuring IGMP snooping with strict validation settings, implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous IGMP traffic patterns, and establishing incident response procedures for handling potential denial of service events. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security patch management for network infrastructure components and demonstrates how protocol implementation flaws in core networking equipment can have cascading effects on enterprise network availability and security posture.