CVE-2016-6360 in Email Security Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) for Cisco Email Security Appliances (ESA) and Web Security Appliances (WSA) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a partial denial of service (DoS) condition due to the AMP process unexpectedly restarting. Affected Products: Cisco AsyncOS Software for Email Security Appliances (ESA) versions 9.5 and later up to the first fixed release, Cisco AsyncOS Software for Web Security Appliances (WSA) all versions prior to the first fixed release. More Information: CSCux56406, CSCux59928. Known Affected Releases: 9.6.0-051 9.7.0-125 8.8.0-085 9.5.0-444 WSA10.0.0-000. Known Fixed Releases: 9.7.1-066 WSA10.0.0-233.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6360 represents a significant security flaw within Cisco's Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) framework deployed on email and web security appliances. This weakness specifically targets the AMP process functionality within Cisco AsyncOS software environments, creating a potential pathway for remote attackers to disrupt service availability without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability affects both Email Security Appliances (ESA) running versions 9.5 and later, as well as Web Security Appliances (WSA) across all prior versions, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on Cisco's security infrastructure. The affected releases span multiple version streams including 9.6.0-051, 9.7.0-125, 8.8.0-085, 9.5.0-444, and WSA10.0.0-000, indicating the flaw persisted across various software iterations and deployment scenarios. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of AMP processes that leads to unexpected restarts, which constitutes a process management failure that can be exploited remotely. This behavior directly violates standard security principles where system processes should maintain stability and resilience against external interference. The impact manifests as a partial denial of service condition, meaning that while the overall system may remain operational, critical AMP functionality becomes unavailable, potentially compromising malware detection capabilities and overall security posture.
The operational implications of CVE-2016-6360 extend beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for organizations relying on Cisco's security appliances. When the AMP process restarts unexpectedly, it creates gaps in malware detection coverage that attackers can exploit to bypass security controls. This vulnerability particularly concerns security administrators because it allows unauthenticated remote exploitation, eliminating the need for credentials or privileged access to initiate the attack. The flaw aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes improper handling of system resources or process management as a fundamental security weakness. From an attack methodology perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, specifically targeting service stoppage and denial of service conditions. The partial nature of the denial of service means that while complete system compromise may not occur, the targeted functionality becomes unreliable, potentially creating windows of opportunity for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations using affected Cisco appliances face increased risk of security breaches as malware detection capabilities are temporarily disabled, leaving networks vulnerable to malicious traffic that would normally be identified and blocked by the AMP system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6360 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves upgrading affected systems to the fixed releases identified in the advisory, specifically version 9.7.1-066 for ESA and WSA10.0.0-233 for Web Security Appliances. This upgrade process should be carefully planned and executed to minimize operational disruption while ensuring complete vulnerability remediation. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual process restart patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as these restarts may occur before complete system failure. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where multiple security appliances are deployed. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust change management processes that ensure timely deployment of security updates. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of upgrade procedures in non-production environments before implementing changes in live systems to prevent unexpected operational issues. Additionally, implementing comprehensive logging and alerting mechanisms around process management activities can provide early detection capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include verification procedures to confirm that the AMP processes maintain stability and do not exhibit the problematic restart behavior that characterizes this vulnerability. From a compliance perspective, addressing CVE-2016-6360 aligns with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 controls related to system maintenance and vulnerability management, ensuring organizations meet regulatory requirements for maintaining secure network environments.