CVE-2014-3262 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) implementation in Cisco IOS 15.3(3)S and earlier and IOS XE does not properly validate parameters in ITR control messages, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CEF outage and packet drops) via malformed messages, aka Bug ID CSCun73782.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2021
The Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3262 represents a critical flaw in Cisco's networking infrastructure that specifically targets the implementation of LISP within IOS 15.3(3)S and earlier versions, as well as IOS XE operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the core functionality of LISP which separates network location identifiers from routing locators, creating a more flexible and scalable addressing scheme. The flaw manifests in the improper validation of parameters within ITR (Invoked Tunnel Router) control messages, which are essential components of the LISP architecture responsible for translating LISP IDs to locators. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that should have been implemented to ensure message integrity and proper processing of control plane communications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malformed ITR control messages that exploit the lack of proper parameter validation within the LISP implementation. These maliciously constructed messages bypass normal validation procedures and cause the affected Cisco devices to process malformed data structures, leading to unpredictable behavior within the routing control plane. The specific impact involves the disruption of CEF (Cisco Express Forwarding) operations which is the core forwarding mechanism that enables high-performance packet switching on Cisco devices. When the vulnerability is successfully exploited, it results in complete CEF outages and significant packet drops that effectively render the network devices unable to properly forward traffic. This creates a denial of service condition that can severely impact network availability and performance across the affected infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3262 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader network reliability and security concerns. Organizations relying on LISP implementations for network virtualization, mobility, or scalable addressing schemes face potential network outages that can cascade across their entire infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the fundamental control plane operations of Cisco routers and switches, potentially causing routing instability that could impact other network services and protocols. From a security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk as it allows remote attackers to cause service disruption without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network devices are exposed to untrusted networks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) within the adversary tactics and techniques framework.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of firmware updates and patches from Cisco, specifically targeting the IOS 15.3(3)S and earlier versions as well as IOS XE releases that contain the affected LISP implementation. Network administrators should prioritize patching critical infrastructure devices that are running vulnerable versions of the software, particularly those that have LISP enabled or are configured to process LISP control messages. Additional defensive measures include implementing network access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable devices to untrusted networks, monitoring for anomalous ITR control message patterns, and establishing robust network segmentation strategies to contain potential impacts. Organizations should also consider disabling LISP functionality on affected devices until patches can be properly deployed and validated in their specific network environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocol implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of control plane components within enterprise networking infrastructure.