CVE-2014-3976 in Advanced Core Operating System
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in A10 Networks Advanced Core Operating System (ACOS) before 2.7.0-p6 and 2.7.1 before 2.7.1-P1_55 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long session id in the URI to sys_reboot.html. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3976 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the A10 Networks Advanced Core Operating System ACOS versions prior to 2.7.0-p6 and 2.7.1 before 2.7.1-P1_55. This security weakness manifests in the handling of session identifiers within the sys_reboot.html web interface endpoint, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through carefully crafted malicious input. The flaw specifically occurs when processing excessively long session identifiers embedded in Uniform Resource Identifiers, allowing attackers to manipulate the system's memory management and potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the web management interface of A10 Networks load balancers and application delivery controllers, which are widely deployed in enterprise network infrastructure for traffic management and security services.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate input validation within the ACOS web server component responsible for processing session identifiers in the reboot endpoint. When a malformed session identifier exceeding the allocated buffer space is submitted through the URI parameter to sys_reboot.html, the system fails to properly bounds-check the input before copying it into memory. This classic buffer overflow condition enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and allowing for code execution. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network credentials to trigger the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible network appliances. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically led to numerous security breaches and system compromises.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3976 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable full system compromise and arbitrary code execution. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can cause the affected ACOS system to crash and restart, leading to service disruption that may persist until manual intervention occurs. However, the more severe implications involve potential code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system, escalate privileges, and establish persistent backdoors. This vulnerability directly affects A10 Networks devices including their load balancer models, application delivery controllers, and other traffic management appliances that rely on the ACOS operating system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices are often deployed at network perimeters and critical infrastructure points where they handle sensitive traffic and serve as primary security gateways for enterprise networks.
Organizations utilizing affected A10 Networks appliances should prioritize immediate remediation through official firmware updates provided by A10 Networks, specifically targeting versions 2.7.0-p6 and 2.7.1-P1_55 or later. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns or attempted exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution indicates that this flaw could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains where initial compromise leads to further system infiltration. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls at network boundaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their entire network infrastructure to identify other potentially affected devices that may be running vulnerable versions of the ACOS operating system, as the impact extends beyond just the specific reboot endpoint to encompass the broader web management interface functionality of these critical network appliances.