CVE-2014-2108 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco IOS 12.2 and 15.0 through 15.3 and IOS XE 3.2 through 3.7 before 3.7.5S and 3.8 through 3.10 before 3.10.1S allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a malformed IKEv2 packet, aka Bug ID CSCui88426.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
Cisco IOS devices running versions 12.2 and 15.0 through 15.3, as well as IOS XE 3.2 through 3.7 before 3.7.5S and 3.8 through 3.10 before 3.10.1S, contain a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition through the deliberate crafting of malformed IKEv2 packets. This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the Internet Key Exchange version 2 protocol implementation within the routing and switching software, where the system fails to properly validate incoming packet structures before processing them. The flaw manifests when the device receives an improperly formatted IKEv2 packet that contains malformed data sequences, leading to an unexpected system behavior that ultimately results in the device performing an uncontrolled reload operation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically relates to improper input validation within network protocol processing components. The vulnerability exists in the IKEv2 packet parsing logic where the system does not adequately sanitize or validate the packet headers and payload structures before attempting to process them. This allows an attacker positioned remotely to craft packets that contain malformed data sequences, particularly within the IKEv2 payload fields, which when processed by the vulnerable IOS version trigger an internal memory corruption state. The device's failure to properly handle this malformed input causes the system to enter an unrecoverable state, leading to the automatic restart or reload of the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to represent a significant threat to network infrastructure availability and stability. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause network outages that affect multiple services dependent on the affected device, particularly within enterprise and service provider networks where these devices serve as critical routing points. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to trigger the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network security controls may not fully isolate routing infrastructure from external threats. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining service availability while addressing the vulnerability, as the device reload can occur without any prior warning or indication of the attack, potentially disrupting critical network operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of affected devices with the appropriate software updates released by Cisco, specifically targeting the versions mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should prioritize updating their IOS and IOS XE systems to versions that contain the fix for CSCui88426, typically found in the 3.7.5S and 3.10.1S releases and subsequent versions. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide temporary protection by limiting exposure to potentially malicious traffic, though these approaches do not eliminate the underlying vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous IKEv2 traffic patterns may help identify potential exploitation attempts before they succeed. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework for network infiltration techniques highlights the need for comprehensive network security monitoring and incident response procedures to effectively address such threats.