CVE-2015-6320 in Aironet 1800
Summary
by MITRE
The IP ingress packet handler on Cisco Aironet 1800 devices with software 8.1(112.3) and 8.1(112.4) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted header in an IP packet, aka Bug ID CSCuv63138.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6320 affects Cisco Aironet 1800 series wireless access points running specific software versions 8.1(112.3) and 8.1(112.4). This represents a critical denial of service weakness within the network infrastructure devices that are widely deployed in enterprise and industrial environments. The affected devices operate as wireless access points that provide connectivity to wireless networks, making them essential components in network operations. The vulnerability specifically resides in the IP ingress packet handler component of the device firmware, which is responsible for processing incoming IP packets that traverse the network interface.
The technical flaw manifests when the device receives an IP packet with a malformed or crafted header structure that the ingress packet handler cannot properly process. This particular vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, where the device fails to adequately validate incoming packet headers before processing them. The crafted packet header triggers an unexpected behavior in the packet handling logic that causes the device to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable, meaning attackers do not require physical access or network credentials to initiate the attack, which significantly increases its potential impact in production environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can lead to complete network outages in environments where these access points serve as critical connectivity components. When the device experiences a denial of service condition, wireless clients lose network connectivity, potentially affecting business operations, emergency communications, or industrial control systems that depend on these wireless networks. The vulnerability affects devices in the Aironet 1800 series, which are commonly deployed in enterprise environments for wireless network infrastructure, making this a significant concern for organizations that rely on these devices for their wireless connectivity needs. The remote exploitability means that attackers can target these devices from outside the network perimeter, potentially affecting organizations with exposed wireless infrastructure.
Cisco has released patches and software updates to address this vulnerability, which should be applied immediately to affected devices. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks and consider monitoring network traffic for unusual packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks and represents a common attack pattern where malformed network traffic is used to compromise system availability. Security teams should prioritize patch management for these specific software versions and conduct network assessments to identify all affected devices within their infrastructure. The incident highlights the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing robust network monitoring to detect and respond to similar vulnerabilities that could compromise network availability and business continuity operations.