CVE-2014-3269 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
The SNMP module in Cisco IOS XE 3.5E allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (device reload) by polling frequently, aka Bug ID CSCug65204.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3269 represents a significant denial of service weakness within Cisco IOS XE software version 3.5E affecting the Simple Network Management Protocol module. This issue manifests when remote authenticated users exploit a flaw in how the SNMP module handles frequent polling requests, leading to unauthorized device reloads that can disrupt network operations and availability. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running IOS XE 3.5E software releases, making it particularly concerning for networks relying on Cisco's routing and switching platforms for critical infrastructure operations. The bug identifier CSCug65204 highlights the specific nature of this flaw within Cisco's internal tracking systems, indicating it was recognized as a legitimate security concern requiring attention from both Cisco and the broader security community.
The technical mechanism underlying this vulnerability involves the SNMP module's inadequate handling of repeated polling requests from authenticated users. When users repeatedly query SNMP objects on affected devices, the system fails to properly manage these requests, causing resource exhaustion or internal state corruption that ultimately triggers an automatic device reload. This behavior stems from insufficient input validation and request processing logic within the SNMP implementation, allowing legitimate authenticated users to perform actions that should be benign but instead result in system instability. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper resource management where the system does not adequately throttle or limit polling frequency, creating an opportunity for malicious or accidental abuse that leads to complete service disruption.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for network administrators and organizations relying on Cisco IOS XE devices. The ability to cause device reloads through routine SNMP polling means that even authorized users can inadvertently or deliberately disrupt network services, potentially affecting multiple network segments depending on the device's role. The denial of service condition can result in extended network outages, requiring manual intervention to restore services, and may impact critical network functions such as routing, switching, and monitoring capabilities. Organizations may face operational challenges including loss of network visibility, potential data transmission interruptions, and increased administrative overhead as they respond to these unexpected reload events. The vulnerability particularly affects network management systems that rely heavily on SNMP polling for monitoring and configuration management.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls and monitoring of SNMP activities to prevent abuse of the affected functionality. Network administrators should consider implementing SNMP access control lists to limit which users or systems can perform polling operations, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual polling patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Cisco recommends applying the appropriate software patches and updates to address this vulnerability, as well as implementing network segmentation to isolate critical devices from potentially problematic SNMP traffic. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous SNMP behavior patterns and establish procedures for rapid response to unauthorized reload events. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses improper resource management, and represents a potential attack vector categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1499 for network denial of service attacks, emphasizing the importance of proper access controls and resource management in network security implementations.