CVE-2014-3404 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE
The Autonomic Networking Infrastructure (ANI) component in Cisco IOS XE does not properly validate certificates, which allows remote attackers to trigger acceptance of an invalid message via crafted messages, aka Bug ID CSCuq22677.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3404 resides within the Autonomic Networking Infrastructure component of Cisco IOS XE software, representing a critical flaw in certificate validation mechanisms that undermines the security posture of network devices. This weakness specifically affects the ANI component responsible for enabling autonomic networking capabilities, which are designed to provide self-management and self-healing properties to network infrastructures. The vulnerability stems from insufficient certificate validation procedures that permit malicious actors to manipulate network communications through carefully crafted invalid messages, thereby compromising the integrity and authenticity of network operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation of X.509 certificates used within the ANI framework, where the system fails to adequately verify certificate chains and cryptographic signatures. This validation failure creates an attack surface where remote adversaries can construct and inject malformed messages that bypass normal certificate checking procedures. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer of network communications, specifically targeting the authentication mechanisms that rely on certificate-based identity verification. Attackers exploiting this weakness can potentially impersonate legitimate network entities, disrupt autonomic networking functions, or gain unauthorized access to network management interfaces that depend on certificate validation for security.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3404 extends beyond simple message manipulation, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model upon which autonomic networking relies. Network devices configured with ANI components become vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can inject false network management messages, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes, data exfiltration, or disruption of network services. The vulnerability affects Cisco IOS XE versions that implement autonomic networking features, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on these self-managing network capabilities. This flaw aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a significant weakness in the certificate validation process that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and lateral movement within network environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from Cisco that address the certificate validation flaws within the ANI component. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous certificate validation behaviors and message patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust certificate validation procedures in network security architectures and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of autonomic networking features. Mitigation strategies should include disabling ANI functionality where not strictly required, implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack impact, and establishing continuous monitoring for unauthorized certificate usage patterns. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper certificate validation in maintaining network security integrity and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.004, which covers credentials from password storage modules, emphasizing the need for proper validation of authentication credentials in network infrastructure components.