CVE-2017-1460 in i OSPF
Summary
by MITRE
IBM i OSPF 6.1, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 is vulnerable when a rogue router spoofs its origin. Routing tables are affected by a missing LSA, which may lead to loss of connectivity. IBM X-Force ID: 128379.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1460 affects IBM i OSPF implementations across versions 6.1, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3, representing a significant security flaw in network routing protocols that could compromise network integrity and availability. This vulnerability specifically manifests when a malicious actor successfully spoofs the origin of a link state advertisement within the OSPF routing domain, creating a scenario where legitimate routing information becomes corrupted or displaced. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the OSPF implementation that fail to properly authenticate the source of routing updates, allowing unauthorized entities to inject false routing information into the network.
The technical flaw resides in the missing LSA validation process where the OSPF implementation does not adequately verify the authenticity of link state advertisements received from neighboring routers. When a rogue router successfully spoofs its origin, it can manipulate the routing tables of affected systems by introducing false LSA entries that appear legitimate to the receiving routers. This manipulation occurs because the OSPF protocol relies on trust relationships between routers, and without proper authentication mechanisms, malicious actors can exploit this trust to redirect network traffic through unintended paths. The vulnerability specifically impacts the OSPF routing protocol's ability to maintain accurate and secure routing information, creating potential for traffic interception, network disruption, or complete connectivity loss.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors within the network infrastructure. When routing tables become corrupted due to the missing LSA validation, network devices may redirect traffic through compromised paths, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access or creating denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects the fundamental integrity of the OSPF routing domain, which could lead to cascading failures throughout the network as routers make routing decisions based on false information. Organizations relying on IBM i systems for critical network operations face potential business disruption and security exposure, particularly in environments where network availability and data integrity are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1460 should focus on implementing robust authentication mechanisms within the OSPF configuration to prevent unauthorized routers from participating in the routing domain. Network administrators should consider deploying OSPF authentication features such as MD5 authentication or other cryptographic methods to ensure that only legitimate routers can contribute to the routing table updates. The implementation of network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the scope of potential attacks by restricting which routers can communicate with each other within the OSPF domain. Additionally, regular monitoring of routing table changes and implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify anomalous routing behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider upgrading to patched versions of IBM i OSPF implementations where available, as this vulnerability represents a known weakness that has been addressed in subsequent releases according to industry standards for secure routing protocol implementations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in network protocols, and could be exploited under ATT&CK framework category T1072 for software deployment and T1566 for credential harvesting through network manipulation techniques.