CVE-2014-3348 in Integrated Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE
The SSH module in the Integrated Management Controller (IMC) before 2.3.1 in Cisco Unified Computing System on E-Series blade servers allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (IMC hang) via a crafted SSH packet, aka Bug ID CSCuo69206.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3348 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Integrated Management Controller (IMC) of Cisco Unified Computing System E-Series blade servers. This issue affects versions prior to 2.3.1 and specifically targets the SSH module implementation, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit a weakness in the authentication protocol handling to disrupt system operations. The vulnerability manifests through the careful crafting of SSH packets that trigger an improper state handling within the IMC firmware, resulting in a complete system hang that prevents legitimate administrative access and service availability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the SSH protocol implementation of the IMC. When the system receives a specially crafted SSH packet, the processing logic fails to properly validate the packet structure or handle unexpected data sequences, leading to a state where the IMC becomes unresponsive and enters a non-recoverable hang condition. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input ranges, and specifically relates to improper handling of protocol-level data that should be validated before processing. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient error handling in network protocol implementations where malformed input causes system-level failures rather than graceful rejection of invalid data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to create significant risks for enterprise infrastructure management. Organizations relying on Cisco E-Series blade servers face the potential for unauthorized denial of service attacks that can render their management interfaces inaccessible, preventing legitimate administrators from performing critical maintenance tasks or responding to other system issues. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous for cloud and data center environments where management interfaces are exposed to external networks. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3348 primarily focus on immediate firmware updates to version 2.3.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the SSH packet handling logic. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of management interfaces to only trusted networks and IP addresses. Additional protective measures include monitoring network traffic for unusual SSH packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, implementing intrusion detection systems with signatures for this specific vulnerability, and establishing redundant management paths to ensure continued access during potential exploitation events. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware in enterprise infrastructure and demonstrates how seemingly minor protocol implementation flaws can result in significant operational disruptions. Security teams should also consider implementing network access control lists to restrict SSH access to management interfaces and establish incident response procedures for handling potential denial of service events targeting management systems.