CVE-2014-0720 in IPS
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco IPS Software 7.1 before 7.1(8)E4 and 7.2 before 7.2(2)E4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Analysis Engine process outage) via a flood of jumbo frames, aka Bug ID CSCuh94944.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-0720 represents a significant denial of service weakness within Cisco's Intrusion Prevention System software that affects versions prior to specific security patches. This flaw resides in the Analysis Engine process of the IPS software, which is responsible for processing and analyzing network traffic for potential security threats. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system encounters an excessive volume of jumbo frames, which are Ethernet frames larger than the standard 1500 byte limit, typically ranging from 9000 to 16000 bytes. The flaw was identified under the Cisco bug ID CSCuh94944 and demonstrates how network protocol handling can be exploited to disrupt critical security infrastructure.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the Analysis Engine's insufficient handling of jumbo frames in the context of high-volume network traffic. When an attacker floods the system with a large number of jumbo frames, the Analysis Engine process becomes overwhelmed and eventually crashes or becomes unresponsive. This occurs because the software lacks proper input validation and resource management when processing these unusually large packets. The flaw essentially creates a resource exhaustion scenario where the system's processing capabilities are consumed faster than they can be replenished, leading to the complete outage of the Analysis Engine service. This represents a classic case of insufficient resource management and inadequate input sanitization, which aligns with CWE-400 vulnerability classification related to resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network security operations. When the Analysis Engine process goes offline, the entire Intrusion Prevention System becomes ineffective, leaving the network vulnerable to actual security threats while appearing to be operational. This creates a false sense of security for network administrators who may not immediately recognize that their protection mechanisms have been disabled. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely heavily on Cisco IPS solutions for network monitoring and threat prevention, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to network resources without detection. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal resources to execute, making it accessible to attackers with basic network capabilities while causing maximum disruption to security infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant security patches released by Cisco, which address the specific handling of jumbo frames in the Analysis Engine process. Network administrators should also consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms to control the volume of jumbo frames entering the network, thereby preventing the exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of jumbo frame traffic that could indicate attempted exploitation. The mitigation strategy should align with cybersecurity frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly focusing on the protection and detection functions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving denial of service and system compromise, potentially enabling lateral movement within the network once the initial disruption occurs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs should be enhanced to identify similar weaknesses in network security infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against both known and emerging threats.