CVE-2016-1287 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the IKEv1 and IKEv2 implementations in Cisco ASA Software before 8.4(7.30), 8.7 before 8.7(1.18), 9.0 before 9.0(4.38), 9.1 before 9.1(7), 9.2 before 9.2(4.5), 9.3 before 9.3(3.7), 9.4 before 9.4(2.4), and 9.5 before 9.5(2.2) on ASA 5500 devices, ASA 5500-X devices, ASA Services Module for Cisco Catalyst 6500 and Cisco 7600 devices, ASA 1000V devices, Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (aka ASAv), Firepower 9300 ASA Security Module, and ISA 3000 devices allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted UDP packets, aka Bug IDs CSCux29978 and CSCux42019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1287 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting the Internet Key Exchange version 1 and 2 implementations within Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software across multiple versions and device types. This security flaw resides in the protocol handling mechanisms that govern secure key exchange operations between network devices, making it particularly dangerous as it affects fundamental security infrastructure components. The vulnerability specifically impacts ASA 5500 series devices, ASA 5500-X platforms, ASA Services Module for Cisco Catalyst 6500 and 7600 devices, ASA 1000V virtual appliances, Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv), Firepower 9300 ASA Security Module, and ISA 3000 devices, creating widespread exposure across Cisco's security portfolio.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the IKE protocol processing code, where attacker-controlled UDP packets containing malformed data can trigger buffer overflow conditions in memory structures responsible for handling key exchange parameters. When the ASA software processes these crafted packets, the insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability resulting in device reloads. This flaw operates at the network protocol level and requires only remote network access to exploit, making it particularly concerning as it can be leveraged by attackers without physical access to the affected systems. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised device.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1287 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over affected ASA devices, potentially enabling them to intercept, modify, or drop network traffic, bypass security policies, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects multiple major software versions including ASA 8.4, 8.7, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, and 9.5 releases, creating extensive exposure across different generations of Cisco security appliances. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable devices face significant risk of network compromise, as ASA appliances serve as critical security boundaries in enterprise networks, firewall protection, and VPN connectivity. The attack vector requires only that an attacker can send UDP packets to the affected device, making it easily exploitable from external network positions, and the potential for remote code execution means that attackers could establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised device as a launching point for further attacks against internal network resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of software updates and patches provided by Cisco, specifically addressing the affected versions mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should prioritize patching all affected ASA devices across their network infrastructure, with particular attention to devices handling sensitive traffic or serving as primary security boundaries. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure, including restricting UDP traffic to only necessary sources and implementing firewall rules to drop suspicious packets. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous UDP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and establish incident response procedures to quickly address any suspected compromise of affected devices. The vulnerability's classification as a critical risk under industry security frameworks emphasizes the importance of immediate remediation, as the potential for complete device compromise makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ASA appliances serve as fundamental security infrastructure components.