CVE-2016-1421 in IP 8800
Summary
by MITRE
The web application on Cisco IP 8800 devices allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds memory access and web-server outage) via a crafted request, aka Bug ID CSCuz03034.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1421 affects Cisco IP 8800 series devices, which are part of Cisco's unified communications infrastructure. These devices operate as web servers and provide web-based management interfaces for configuration and monitoring purposes. The affected devices run a web application that processes HTTP requests from remote attackers, creating a potential attack surface that can be exploited to disrupt service availability. This vulnerability specifically targets the web server component of the device, making it particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the device's ability to function normally and serve its intended purpose within the network infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds memory access condition that occurs when the web application processes a specially crafted HTTP request. This type of vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where the application fails to properly validate input data before processing it in memory. When an attacker sends a malformed request containing malicious data, the web server's memory management routines attempt to access memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. This improper memory access can cause the web server process to crash or behave unpredictably, leading to a complete service outage that affects the device's web interface and potentially its overall functionality. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in system instability and denial of service scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can effectively render the affected Cisco IP 8800 device unusable for its intended communications purposes. Network administrators lose access to the device's web management interface, preventing them from monitoring, configuring, or troubleshooting the device during an attack. This creates a cascading effect where the device becomes isolated from network management and monitoring systems, potentially leading to extended service outages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks without requiring authentication, making it accessible to anyone who can reach the device over the network. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries exploit vulnerabilities to disrupt network services and communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. Cisco released patches and firmware updates to address this specific vulnerability, which should be applied immediately to all affected devices. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to the device's web interface to authorized personnel only, reducing the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network infrastructure components. The web server configuration should be hardened by disabling unnecessary services and implementing proper input validation mechanisms. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be established to quickly address any successful attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists and firewall rules to limit access to the device's web management ports from trusted networks only.