CVE-2016-1349 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Smart Install client implementation in Cisco IOS 12.2, 15.0, and 15.2 and IOS XE 3.2 through 3.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted image list parameters in a Smart Install packet, aka Bug ID CSCuv45410.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1349 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Cisco's Smart Install client implementation across multiple IOS and IOS XE versions. This vulnerability specifically affects Cisco IOS versions 12.2, 15.0, and 15.2, as well as IOS XE versions 3.2 through 3.7, creating a widespread impact across numerous network infrastructure devices. The Smart Install feature was designed to simplify device provisioning and software deployment, but this implementation contains a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by remote attackers to cause complete device reloads. The vulnerability manifests when attackers craft malicious image list parameters within Smart Install packets, which when processed by affected devices trigger unexpected behavior leading to system instability and complete device restarts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate input validation within the Smart Install client processing logic. When the client receives a Smart Install packet containing crafted image list parameters, the parsing and validation mechanisms fail to properly handle malformed or unexpected data structures. This insufficient sanitization allows malicious data to traverse the normal processing flow and trigger memory corruption or unexpected state transitions within the device's operating system. The flaw operates at the network protocol level where the Smart Install client processes packets without proper bounds checking or parameter validation, making it susceptible to exploitation by remote attackers who can craft specific packet contents to trigger the device reload behavior. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and OWASP Top Ten category A03: Injection, as it involves the processing of untrusted input without proper validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1349 extends beyond simple service disruption to create potential network-wide cascading failures. When affected devices experience reloads, they temporarily become unavailable, disrupting network connectivity and potentially causing routing loops or service outages depending on the device role within the network topology. Network administrators may experience significant operational challenges as multiple devices across different segments could be simultaneously affected, leading to extended downtime and complex troubleshooting efforts. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or local network credentials, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise networks. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 Network Denial of Service within the ATT&CK framework, representing a sophisticated method of disrupting network operations through targeted exploitation of device management protocols.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks. Organizations should disable Smart Install functionality on all affected devices until proper patches are deployed, as this represents the most effective immediate remediation. Network administrators should implement ingress filtering and access control lists to restrict Smart Install traffic to trusted sources only, preventing unauthorized exploitation attempts. Cisco has released security advisories and patches addressing this vulnerability, which should be prioritized for deployment across all affected network infrastructure. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for anomalous Smart Install packet patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of network intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for this specific vulnerability can provide early warning capabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential attack vectors within the network infrastructure, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps in device management protocols.