CVE-2016-1353 in VDS-IS
Summary
by MITRE
The TCP implementation in Cisco Videoscape Distribution Suite for Internet Streaming (VDS-IS) 3.3(0), 3.3(1), 4.0(0), and 4.1(0) does not properly initiate new TCP sessions when a previous session is in a FIN wait state, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (TCP outage) via vectors involving FIN packets, aka Bug ID CSCuy45136.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-1353 represents a critical flaw in the TCP session management implementation within Cisco Videoscape Distribution Suite for Internet Streaming version 3.3(0), 3.3(1), 4.0(0), and 4.1(0). This issue specifically targets the handling of TCP connection states, particularly the transition from established connections to the FIN wait state, which is a fundamental aspect of TCP protocol compliance and connection termination. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly initiate new TCP sessions following the completion of previous connections that have entered the FIN wait state, creating a cascading effect that can lead to complete service disruption.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper state management of TCP connections within the VDS-IS application. When a TCP connection reaches the FIN wait state, it indicates that one side has sent a FIN packet to initiate connection termination, but the connection has not yet been fully closed. The system's failure to properly handle this transition results in a condition where subsequent connection attempts cannot establish new sessions, effectively creating a TCP outage that prevents legitimate users from establishing streaming connections. This behavior violates standard TCP protocol implementation practices and represents a fundamental flaw in connection state handling that aligns with CWE-691, which addresses inadequate control flow management in network protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly translates to a denial of service condition that affects the availability of streaming services provided by the Cisco Videoscape Distribution Suite. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specific sequences of FIN packets that cause the system to enter a state where it cannot establish new TCP sessions, thereby disrupting service availability for legitimate users. The attack vector involves crafting network traffic that triggers the problematic TCP state transition, leading to a complete outage of the streaming service. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of the VDS-IS system, which is designed to deliver internet streaming content, making it particularly damaging for organizations that rely on this platform for content distribution.
The implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple service disruption to represent a significant security risk that can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges. The ability to cause TCP outages through manipulation of FIN packets demonstrates a weakness in the system's resilience against network-based attacks and highlights the importance of proper TCP state machine implementation in network services. Organizations using affected versions of Cisco Videoscape Distribution Suite face the risk of extended service interruptions that can impact their ability to deliver streaming content to end users, potentially resulting in revenue loss and damage to service reputation. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption attacks targeting TCP connections, emphasizing the need for robust connection management in streaming applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing immediate patches provided by Cisco, which address the specific TCP state management flaw in the affected software versions. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls to monitor and restrict suspicious TCP FIN packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should review and test network configurations to ensure proper handling of TCP connection states and implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous connection patterns. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that the patch resolves the TCP session initiation issue without introducing regressions in other system functionalities, as proper TCP state management is critical for maintaining streaming service reliability and preventing similar vulnerabilities in the future.