CVE-2014-3290 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE
The mDNS implementation in Cisco IOS XE 3.12S does not properly interact with autonomic networking, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive networking-services information by sniffing the network or overwrite networking-services data via a crafted mDNS response, aka Bug ID CSCun64867.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3290 represents a critical flaw in Cisco IOS XE 3.12S that affects the multicast domain name system implementation within autonomic networking contexts. This issue stems from improper handling of mDNS communications, creating opportunities for attackers to both discover sensitive network services information through passive network sniffing and actively manipulate network services data through crafted mDNS responses. The flaw specifically impacts Cisco's implementation of autonomic networking features, which are designed to enable self-configuring and self-managing network environments without manual intervention. The vulnerability exists in the interaction between mDNS protocols and the autonomic networking framework, creating a pathway for adversaries to compromise network service visibility and integrity.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation and processing of mDNS packets within the autonomic networking implementation. When mDNS responses are received, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of the data contained within these packets. This lack of proper input validation allows attackers to inject malicious mDNS responses that can overwrite legitimate network service information or expose sensitive details about network services that should remain confidential. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes mDNS packets in autonomic networking mode, where the expected behavior differs from standard mDNS operations. This implementation gap creates a window of opportunity for attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against the mDNS infrastructure, potentially leading to service disruption, information disclosure, or unauthorized network modifications. The flaw is categorized under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol communication.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3290 extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential service disruption and network compromise. An attacker capable of sniffing network traffic can discover sensitive information about available network services, including service names, types, and availability status, which could aid in subsequent attacks targeting specific services. More critically, the ability to overwrite networking-services data through crafted mDNS responses allows attackers to manipulate network service discovery mechanisms, potentially redirecting traffic to malicious endpoints or causing legitimate services to become unavailable. This vulnerability particularly affects networks implementing Cisco's autonomic networking features, where the system expects to automatically configure and manage network services without manual intervention, making the attack surface more expansive and the potential impact more severe. The vulnerability affects network infrastructure devices that rely on mDNS for service discovery within autonomic networking environments, potentially compromising entire network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3290 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the scope of potential attacks, ensuring that autonomic networking features are not exposed to untrusted networks or external attackers. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous mDNS traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, with specific attention to unexpected service overwrites or unusual service discovery activities. Cisco recommends upgrading to IOS XE software versions that contain patches addressing this vulnerability, as the official fix resolves the improper mDNS interaction with autonomic networking. Additionally, implementing access control measures to restrict mDNS traffic to trusted network segments and deploying network intrusion detection systems can help identify and prevent exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach should also consider the ATT&CK framework's recommendations for network traffic filtering and monitoring, ensuring that defensive measures align with established cybersecurity best practices for protecting against application layer protocol attacks.