CVE-2014-3346 in Transport Gateway Installation Software
Summary
by MITRE
The web framework in Cisco Transport Gateway for Smart Call Home (aka TG-SCH or Transport Gateway Installation Software) does not validate an unspecified parameter, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (service crash) via a crafted string, aka Bug ID CSCuq31819.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3346 affects Cisco Transport Gateway for Smart Call Home, a critical component in network infrastructure management that facilitates communication between network devices and Cisco support centers. This web framework implementation contains a significant security flaw that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms, specifically concerning an unspecified parameter within the application's processing pipeline. The flaw exists in the software's handling of user-supplied data, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system's vulnerability through crafted input strings.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within the domain of input validation flaws, which are commonly categorized under CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation. The weakness allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the system by submitting specially crafted strings that trigger unexpected behavior in the web framework. These crafted inputs are designed to exploit the lack of proper parameter validation, causing the application to process malformed data in a way that leads to system instability. The vulnerability specifically targets the service crash mechanism, indicating that the malformed input processing results in complete system failure rather than merely degraded performance.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to network availability and service continuity. The ability to cause a denial of service through authenticated access means that attackers who can establish legitimate credentials within the system can effectively disable critical network management functions. This creates a scenario where authorized users can inadvertently or maliciously disrupt network operations, potentially affecting multiple network devices that rely on the Smart Call Home functionality for monitoring and support communications. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromising network security monitoring capabilities and support response mechanisms that depend on this infrastructure.
The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, which suggests that the vulnerability may be exploited through compromised credentials or insider threats. This authentication requirement provides some defense in depth but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as the system must still be resilient against attacks from legitimate users who may have access to the affected functionality. Organizations should consider implementing additional controls such as access logging, privilege monitoring, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 - Endpoint Denial of Service, which focuses on attacks that target system resources to cause service disruption, and T1078.002 - Valid Accounts, as the attack requires legitimate authentication credentials to be effective.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation controls that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing. Organizations should apply the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address this vulnerability, as well as implement network monitoring to detect unusual patterns of authenticated access that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting access to the affected web framework through network access controls, implementing strict session management protocols, and establishing robust logging and alerting mechanisms to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in related systems and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.