CVE-2016-1369 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
The Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) 5585-X FirePOWER Security Services Processor (SSP) module for Cisco ASA with FirePOWER Services 5.3.1 through 6.0.0 misconfigures kernel logging, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption, and inspection outage or module outage) via a flood of crafted IP traffic, aka Bug ID CSCux19922.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1369 affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) devices running FirePOWER Services with the 5585-X FirePOWER Security Services Processor module. This issue stems from a critical misconfiguration in kernel logging mechanisms within the Security Services Processor, creating a significant operational weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt network security services. The vulnerability specifically impacts ASA versions 5.3.1 through 6.0.0, making it a widespread concern across multiple firmware releases of the FirePOWER service module.
The technical flaw manifests through improper kernel logging configuration that fails to adequately handle resource allocation during high-volume traffic processing. When remote attackers flood the system with crafted IP traffic, the misconfigured logging mechanism becomes overwhelmed and consumes excessive system resources. This resource exhaustion leads to cascading failures within the security module, ultimately resulting in denial of service conditions that can manifest as complete inspection outages or module shutdowns. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the fundamental operational capabilities of the security appliance rather than just application-level functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network security posture and availability. Organizations relying on Cisco ASA with FirePOWER Services for network protection face significant risk when this vulnerability is exploited, as the denial of service can render critical security inspection capabilities unavailable. The module outage or inspection failure creates gaps in network monitoring and threat detection, leaving networks vulnerable to attacks that would otherwise be detected and mitigated by the FirePOWER services. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of security services, potentially exposing organizations to increased risk of network intrusions and security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1369 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to versions that address the kernel logging misconfiguration issue. Cisco released patches and updated firmware versions specifically designed to resolve this vulnerability, and organizations should implement these updates as a priority. Network administrators should also consider implementing traffic rate limiting and access control measures to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and represents a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern that can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1498, "Network Denial of Service." Additionally, this issue demonstrates the importance of proper logging configuration management and resource allocation practices in security appliances, particularly those handling high-volume network traffic processing.