CVE-2016-4786 in Connect Secure
Summary
by MITRE
Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.2 before 8.2r1, 8.1 before 8.1r3, 8.0 before 8.0r11, and 7.4 before 7.4r13.4 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via unspecified vectors.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
The Pulse Connect Secure appliance represents a critical network infrastructure component that provides secure remote access solutions for organizations worldwide. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Pulse Connect Secure software, specifically targeting releases 8.2 before 8.2r1, 8.1 before 8.1r3, 8.0 before 8.0r11, and 7.4 before 7.4r13.4. The flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that results in excessive cpu consumption, effectively rendering the secure access service unavailable to legitimate users. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on continuous secure connectivity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves unspecified vectors that trigger abnormal cpu utilization patterns within the Pulse Connect Secure software. While the exact mechanisms remain undisclosed, such denial of service conditions typically exploit memory management flaws, input validation issues, or resource exhaustion scenarios that cause the system to consume excessive computational resources. The vulnerability operates by leveraging specific request patterns or data inputs that cause the application to enter into resource-intensive processing loops or memory allocation issues that progressively consume available cpu cycles. This behavior aligns with common software flaws categorized under CWE-400, which addresses unchecked resource consumption in application code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for organizations relying on Pulse Connect Secure for remote access. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause complete service unavailability, forcing users to lose access to critical business applications and data resources. Network administrators may experience significant operational challenges as the affected systems become unresponsive, potentially requiring manual intervention to restore service. The remote exploitability aspect means that attackers can target these systems from outside the organization's network perimeter, eliminating the need for physical access or internal network presence. This characteristic places organizations at risk of sustained denial of service attacks that can significantly impact business continuity and productivity.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect their infrastructure from exploitation of this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the specific cpu consumption issues within the affected software versions. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual cpu utilization patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include configuring firewalls to limit access to the affected services, implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activity, and establishing incident response procedures for rapid remediation. The vulnerability's classification under attack techniques such as those described in the attack pattern taxonomy suggests that organizations should also review their network segmentation strategies and ensure proper access controls are in place to limit potential impact. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within the broader network infrastructure.