CVE-2016-6363 in Aironet
Summary
by MITRE
The rate-limit feature in the 802.11 protocol implementation on Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 devices with software before 8.2.121.0 and 8.3.x before 8.3.102.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted 802.11 frames, aka Bug ID CSCva06192.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-6363 represents a critical flaw in the 802.11 protocol implementation within Cisco Aironet wireless access point devices. This issue specifically affects the rate-limiting mechanism that is designed to prevent network congestion and manage traffic flow. The vulnerability exists in Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 series devices running firmware versions prior to 8.2.121.0 and 8.3.x versions before 8.3.102.0. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the rate-limit feature through the careful crafting of 802.11 frames, ultimately leading to a complete device reload or denial of service condition. This represents a significant security risk as it can be leveraged by attackers without requiring physical access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and public wireless network environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of 802.11 frames within the rate-limiting algorithm of the wireless access point firmware. When the device receives specially crafted frames that manipulate the rate-limiting parameters, the system fails to properly validate or process these inputs, resulting in a condition that triggers an automatic device reload. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow vulnerabilities in heap data structures. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of insufficient input validation where the system does not adequately sanitize or verify the legitimacy of incoming 802.11 frames before processing them through the rate-limiting mechanism. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates over the wireless medium, allowing attackers to exploit the vulnerability from remote locations within the wireless coverage area.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential business continuity issues and network security implications. When a wireless access point experiences a reload due to this vulnerability, it creates temporary network outages that can affect hundreds or thousands of connected devices depending on the network topology. In enterprise environments, this could result in significant productivity loss, especially when critical business applications rely on wireless connectivity. The vulnerability also presents an opportunity for more sophisticated attacks, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks. Network administrators may find their devices repeatedly reloading, creating a situation where the network becomes unstable and unreliable. The automatic nature of the device reload means that the attacker does not need to maintain persistent access or perform complex multi-stage attacks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that depend on continuous wireless network availability.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through firmware updates provided by Cisco. The recommended solution involves upgrading affected devices to firmware versions 8.2.121.0 or later for the 8.2.x release line and 8.3.102.0 or later for the 8.3.x release line. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and intrusion detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in network protocol implementations and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of wireless infrastructure components. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such attacks, while also ensuring that all wireless network devices are regularly updated and monitored for similar vulnerabilities. The incident also serves as a reminder of the critical nature of maintaining current firmware versions and the potential consequences of running outdated network infrastructure components.