CVE-2014-3402 in Intrusion Prevention System
Summary
by MITRE
The authentication-manager process in the web framework in Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) 7.0(8)E4 and earlier in Cisco Intrusion Detection System (IDS) does not properly manage user tokens, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (temporary MainApp hang) via a crafted connection request to the management interface, aka Bug ID CSCuq39550.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3402 affects Cisco's Intrusion Prevention System and Intrusion Detection System products, specifically targeting the authentication-manager process within their web framework. This flaw resides in version 7.0(8)E4 and earlier releases, representing a critical weakness in the security infrastructure that protects network environments from malicious activities. The issue manifests through improper handling of user tokens during the authentication process, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system's management interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate token management within the authentication framework of Cisco's security appliances. When a crafted connection request is sent to the management interface, the authentication-manager process fails to properly validate or handle the malformed tokens, leading to a temporary hang of the MainApp component. This specific behavior represents a classic denial of service condition where legitimate system operations are disrupted, though the impact is temporary rather than permanent. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and monitor the security appliances.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security operations as it allows remote attackers to disrupt the management capabilities of critical security infrastructure. The temporary MainApp hang means that administrators lose access to the management interface for the duration of the service disruption, potentially preventing them from responding to actual security incidents or making necessary configuration changes. This creates a window of vulnerability where the security appliance becomes effectively non-functional from a management standpoint, even though the underlying network protection capabilities may remain operational. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or network proximity to exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and relates to the broader category of authentication flaws that can lead to service disruption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving service stoppage and denial of service operations, potentially enabling adversaries to create conditions that mask other malicious activities or prevent security response capabilities from functioning properly. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Cisco security advisories and patches, while implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of management interfaces to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual connection patterns to management interfaces and implementing robust access controls can help detect potential exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption to security operations.