CVE-2015-0647 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco IOS 12.2, 12.4, 15.0, 15.2, and 15.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via malformed Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) UDP packets, aka Bug ID CSCum98371.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2017
Cisco IOS devices running versions 12.2, 12.4, 15.0, 15.2, and 15.3 contain a critical vulnerability in their handling of Common Industrial Protocol UDP packets that can be exploited by remote attackers to trigger device reloads and cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability specifically affects the industrial protocol processing functionality within the IOS operating system and is documented as Bug ID CSCum98371. The flaw occurs when the system receives malformed CIP UDP packets on specific ports, causing the device to crash and restart automatically. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of input validation failure in network protocol handling. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote code execution in the form of device disruption rather than direct system compromise, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt industrial control systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of incoming CIP UDP packet structures within the IOS protocol stack. When a malformed packet is received, the system's packet processing routine fails to properly handle the unexpected data format, leading to memory corruption and subsequent system instability. The attack vector requires no authentication and can be executed from any location on the network, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where network segmentation may be limited. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability of critical network infrastructure and can result in extended downtime for industrial operations. The specific nature of the flaw means that even a single malicious packet can cause the device to reboot, potentially leading to cascading failures in larger networked systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a denial of service technique categorized under T1499.004, which involves network disruption through protocol manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device downtime to potentially compromise entire industrial control systems that rely on continuous network connectivity. In manufacturing environments, process control systems, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and other critical infrastructure components may be affected by the automatic device reloads. The vulnerability affects multiple IOS versions, indicating a widespread exposure across different product lines and deployment scenarios. Organizations with legacy industrial equipment running these IOS versions face significant risk of operational disruption, especially in environments where network monitoring and intrusion detection systems may not be properly configured to detect such attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from outside the network perimeter, potentially bypassing traditional network security controls. Network administrators should consider implementing network segmentation, access control lists, and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for industrial network infrastructure, as the affected IOS versions have received security updates that address this specific flaw through proper input validation and error handling mechanisms.