CVE-2014-3901 in Dominion
Summary
by MITRE
Raritan Japan Dominion KX2-101 switches before 2 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device hang) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2019
The CVE-2014-3901 vulnerability affects Raritan Japan Dominion KX2-101 network switches running firmware versions prior to a specified update. This issue represents a significant security weakness in network infrastructure devices that could be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt critical network operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the switch's packet processing mechanism, where malformed or crafted network packets can trigger unexpected behavior in the device's operational state. The affected switches are commonly deployed in enterprise environments and data centers where reliable network connectivity is essential for business operations, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that depend on uninterrupted network services.
The technical flaw in the KX2-101 switches stems from inadequate input validation within the network packet processing pipeline. When the switch receives a specially crafted packet that deviates from expected network protocols, the device fails to properly handle the malformed data structure, leading to a complete system hang or freeze. This behavior indicates a lack of proper error handling and defensive programming practices within the switch's firmware implementation. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, specifically targeting the switch's ability to process incoming packets without proper sanitization, which aligns with common weakness patterns identified in CWE-129 and CWE-772 related to input validation and resource management. The device's failure to recover from malformed packet inputs creates a persistent denial of service condition that requires manual intervention to restore normal operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to network availability and business continuity. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no physical access or insider knowledge to execute the attack. The device hang condition effectively renders the switch non-functional, potentially disrupting network traffic flow and causing cascading failures throughout the connected network infrastructure. Organizations relying on these switches for critical network operations may experience extended downtime, service degradation, or complete network outages depending on the switch's role within the network topology. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for more sophisticated attacks, as the initial denial of service can be used as a precursor to other exploitation techniques, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499 for network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3901 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Raritan Japan to address the underlying packet processing flaw. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these switches to untrusted networks while ensuring proper monitoring of network traffic for suspicious packet patterns. The implementation of intrusion detection systems and network monitoring tools can help identify potential exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically addressing device hangs and network outages, including documented recovery processes for affected switches. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in embedded network devices. The remediation process requires careful planning to minimize network disruption during firmware updates, particularly in mission-critical environments where network availability is paramount.