CVE-2015-1610 in l2switch
Summary
by MITRE
hosttracker in OpenDaylight l2switch allows remote attackers to change the host location information by spoofing the MAC address, aka "topology spoofing."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1610 affects the hosttracker component within OpenDaylight's l2switch module, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate network topology information through MAC address spoofing techniques. This vulnerability specifically targets the host tracking mechanisms that monitor and maintain accurate information about device locations within the network infrastructure. The affected system operates under the assumption that MAC address information can be trusted without proper validation, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized control over network topology data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the hosttracker module, which fails to properly authenticate or verify MAC address information received from network devices. When an attacker spoofs a MAC address, the system incorrectly updates its internal topology database with false location information, leading to a complete breakdown in network monitoring and management capabilities. This flaw operates at the network layer where host tracking mechanisms rely on unverified MAC address data to maintain accurate network topology mappings, effectively allowing attackers to create false network states that can persist until manually corrected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information manipulation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of network monitoring systems and can lead to serious security consequences. Attackers can use this vulnerability to disrupt network operations by creating false network topologies that mislead network administrators and automated systems. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially hide malicious devices within the network, bypass network security controls, and create confusion in network management systems that depend on accurate topology information. This spoofing capability can also facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as man-in-the-middle operations or network disruption campaigns.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and represents a clear violation of network security principles where proper access controls and authentication mechanisms are bypassed through simple MAC address manipulation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving spoofing and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the network infrastructure and management systems that rely on accurate topology information. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise networks that depend on automated network management systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced MAC address validation mechanisms, network segmentation to limit the impact of topology spoofing, and regular monitoring of network topology changes for suspicious patterns. The recommended approach involves deploying additional authentication layers for topology information updates, implementing rate limiting for topology changes, and establishing automated alerting systems that detect anomalous topology modifications. Network administrators should also consider implementing network access control lists and port security measures to prevent unauthorized MAC address changes at the network edge, while ensuring that topology tracking systems maintain audit trails of all topology modifications for forensic analysis and incident response purposes.