CVE-2015-4284 in IOS XR
Summary
by MITRE
The Concurrent Data Management Replication process in Cisco IOS XR 5.3.0 on ASR 9000 devices allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (BGP process reload) via malformed BGPv4 packets, aka Bug ID CSCur70670.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4284 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Cisco IOS XR 5.3.0 software running on ASR 9000 series routers. This flaw specifically targets the Concurrent Data Management Replication process which handles BGPv4 packet processing, creating a pathway for remote attackers to disrupt network operations through carefully crafted malformed packets. The issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the BGP process, allowing malicious actors to exploit a fundamental protocol handling weakness that affects the core routing functionality of these enterprise-grade devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the processing of BGPv4 packets where the system fails to properly validate packet structures before attempting to parse and replicate the data. When malformed BGPv4 packets are received, the system's BGP process becomes unstable and triggers an automatic reload operation, effectively causing the BGP daemon to restart and temporarily removing the device from the routing domain. This behavior constitutes a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate error handling procedures that should be implemented according to CWE-248 standards for maintaining system availability. The vulnerability specifically impacts the BGP process within the concurrent data management framework, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure that relies heavily on BGP for routing decisions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for network availability and reliability, especially in mission-critical infrastructure where ASR 9000 devices serve as core routing platforms. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can trigger the denial of service condition without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for networks that are exposed to the internet or have limited access controls. The BGP process reload operation results in temporary routing disruptions that can affect multiple network segments depending on the device's role in the network topology. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service and represents a critical weakness in the network infrastructure layer that could be leveraged for broader attack chains. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as BGP reloads can cause routing instability, traffic rerouting, and potential loss of connectivity for dependent services.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit exposure to untrusted networks, implementing BGP packet filtering to reject malformed packets, and applying the official Cisco security patches released for this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves configuring access control lists to filter suspicious BGP packet patterns and establishing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous BGP behavior. Network administrators should also consider implementing redundant routing paths and failover mechanisms to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. According to industry best practices and security frameworks, this vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in network infrastructure software, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and continuous vulnerability management programs that align with NIST cybersecurity guidelines and ISO 27001 standards for information security management.