CVE-2014-3276 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 1.2(.1 patch 2) and earlier does not properly handle deadlock conditions during reception of crafted RADIUS accounting packets from multiple NAS devices, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (RADIUS outage) by sourcing these packets from two origins, aka Bug ID CSCuo56780.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3276 affects Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) version 1.2.1 patch 2 and earlier implementations, presenting a critical denial of service risk through improper handling of deadlock conditions during RADIUS accounting packet processing. This flaw specifically manifests when the system receives crafted RADIUS accounting packets from multiple Network Access Servers (NAS) devices simultaneously, creating a scenario where the system enters a deadlock state that results in complete RADIUS service disruption. The vulnerability operates through a race condition in the packet handling mechanism, where concurrent packet processing from multiple sources triggers an internal state management failure that cannot be resolved without manual intervention or system restart.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with access to the network infrastructure to send specially crafted RADIUS accounting packets from two distinct origins. This attack vector leverages the system's failure to properly manage concurrent processing of accounting information, where the deadlock condition occurs during the internal state synchronization process between multiple packet processing threads. The flaw represents a classic example of improper resource management and thread synchronization issues that fall under CWE-362, which catalogs concurrency-related vulnerabilities including race conditions and deadlock scenarios. The system's inability to gracefully handle multiple concurrent connections during accounting packet processing creates a cascading failure that affects the entire RADIUS service functionality within the ISE environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3276 extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can severely compromise network access control and authentication services that depend on the ISE platform. Organizations relying on Cisco ISE for identity management and network access control face significant operational risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as the denial of service affects not only RADIUS authentication services but also the broader network access infrastructure that depends on ISE for policy enforcement. The attack requires minimal resources to execute and can be performed from any location with network access to the ISE system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting authentication services, and represents a significant threat to the availability and integrity of network access control systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for Cisco ISE versions 1.2.1 patch 2 and earlier, while also considering network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual RADIUS packet patterns and establishing automated alerting systems for abnormal service behavior. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper concurrent processing design in network infrastructure systems and serves as a reminder of the critical need for thorough testing of race condition scenarios in multi-threaded environments. Network administrators should also consider implementing redundant authentication systems and backup access controls to maintain operational continuity during potential exploitation events, while ensuring that all network infrastructure components receive regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.