CVE-2015-4227 in Headend System Release
Summary
by MITRE
Memory leak in Cisco Headend System Release allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCus91838.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4227 represents a critical memory leak issue within Cisco Headend System Release that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through unspecified vectors. This flaw manifests as excessive memory consumption that can ultimately lead to system instability and service disruption. The vulnerability was catalogued under Bug ID CSCus91838, indicating its classification within Cisco's internal tracking systems for security defects. The memory leak occurs in the headend system software that processes and manages broadcast television signals, making it a significant concern for cable and satellite television providers who rely on Cisco infrastructure for their operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Cisco Headend System Release software implementation. When remote attackers exploit the unspecified vectors, the system fails to properly release allocated memory resources, causing progressive memory consumption over time. This memory leak behavior represents a classic software defect pattern that can be categorized under CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper management of memory allocation and deallocation. The flaw allows attackers to repeatedly send malicious inputs or trigger specific conditions that cause the system to allocate memory without subsequent freeing, leading to gradual degradation of system performance and eventual complete memory exhaustion.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4227 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire broadcast networks that depend on Cisco headend infrastructure. Organizations using affected Cisco Headend System Release versions face the risk of complete service outages, particularly during peak broadcast periods when memory resources are already under significant strain. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or elevated privileges. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers resource exhaustion attacks targeting network services. The vulnerability particularly affects cable television providers, satellite operators, and other broadcast infrastructure operators who may experience cascading failures as memory exhaustion propagates through interconnected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4227 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Cisco, as the company likely released a security advisory and software update addressing the memory leak issue. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, utilizing tools that can track memory allocation and deallocation within the affected systems. The implementation of access controls and network segmentation can help reduce the attack surface by limiting exposure of vulnerable headend systems to external threats. Additionally, regular system health monitoring should include memory usage tracking to identify potential leak conditions before they result in complete service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with memory leak exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of critical infrastructure components.