CVE-2015-0671 in Videoscape Delivery System For Internet Streamer
Summary
by MITRE
The DNS implementation in Cisco Videoscape Distribution Suite for Internet Streaming (VDS-IS) 3.2(1) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption and network-resource consumption) via crafted packets, aka Bug ID CSCun15911.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0671 affects the DNS implementation within Cisco Videoscape Distribution Suite for Internet Streaming version 3.2(1), representing a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of crafted DNS packets within the VDS-IS platform, which is designed for delivering internet streaming content through video distribution networks. The affected system operates as a critical component in content delivery infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on Cisco's streaming solutions for their media distribution needs.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of malformed or specially crafted DNS packets that exploit weaknesses in the DNS resolution process within the VDS-IS software. When these malicious packets are received by the affected system, they trigger excessive CPU utilization and consume network resources at an abnormal rate, effectively causing the system to become unresponsive or crash. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes the vulnerability as a resource exhaustion issue where attacker-controlled input leads to system resource depletion. The attack vector requires only network access to the vulnerable system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed remotely without requiring physical access or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as the sustained CPU and network resource consumption can lead to complete system unavailability and cascading failures within larger network infrastructures. Organizations using Cisco VDS-IS for internet streaming services may experience significant downtime during attack execution, potentially affecting thousands of end-users who depend on the streaming content. The vulnerability's ability to consume system resources without requiring authentication or specialized privileges means that any remote attacker with network access can potentially exploit it, making it a high-risk vulnerability for organizations with exposed streaming infrastructure. This type of attack can be particularly devastating in enterprise environments where streaming services are critical for business operations, as it can disrupt content delivery for extended periods and potentially lead to financial losses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0671 should prioritize immediate software updates from Cisco to address the DNS implementation flaw, as the vendor has released patches specifically designed to resolve this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring network traffic for suspicious DNS packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of rate limiting and connection tracking mechanisms can help reduce the impact of resource exhaustion attacks by limiting the number of malicious packets that can be processed within a given time period. Additionally, security teams should consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on anomalous DNS traffic patterns consistent with this vulnerability, as outlined in ATT&CK technique T1498 for resource exhaustion attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to ensure that all components of the streaming infrastructure remain protected against similar vulnerabilities, with particular attention to the DNS handling capabilities of all networked devices in the environment.