CVE-2017-1298 in Security Network Protection XGS
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability has been discovered in 40-GbE network interface modules for IBM Security Network Protection XGS 7100 appliance. IBM X-Force ID: 125160.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1298 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting IBM Security Network Protection XGS 7100 appliance hardware components. This issue specifically targets 40-gigabit ethernet network interface modules that form part of the security appliance's networking infrastructure, potentially compromising the availability of critical network security services. The vulnerability was catalogued by IBM X-Force under ID 125160, indicating a recognized security concern within IBM's internal threat intelligence framework.
The technical flaw manifests within the network interface module's handling of specific network traffic patterns or packet structures that trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying firmware or hardware control mechanisms. This weakness allows an attacker to craft malicious network packets or traffic sequences that cause the affected network interface to become unresponsive or fail entirely. The vulnerability exploits fundamental aspects of network protocol processing and hardware resource management, potentially leading to complete network interface module failure and subsequent service disruption. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, as the flaw enables an attacker to exhaust system resources through carefully constructed network traffic.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1298 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise the entire security appliance's network connectivity and security posture. When network interface modules fail, the appliance cannot properly process or forward network traffic, creating a significant gap in network security monitoring and protection capabilities. This vulnerability directly affects the availability of security services, as the appliance becomes unable to perform its core function of network traffic inspection and security policy enforcement. Organizations relying on the XGS 7100 appliance for network security may experience complete network outages or security gaps during the period when affected modules are compromised.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and systematic implementation across affected deployments. Organizations should prioritize applying the latest firmware updates and patches provided by IBM to address the specific resource consumption issues within the network interface modules. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while also establishing redundant network paths to maintain security coverage during potential module failures. The remediation process must consider the potential for service disruption during patch installation and should follow IBM's recommended procedures for safe firmware updates. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, highlighting the importance of maintaining network infrastructure availability and implementing robust network segmentation to limit the impact of such attacks.