CVE-2017-3812 in Industrial Ethernet 2000 Switch
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the implementation of Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) functionality in Cisco Industrial Ethernet 2000 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition due to a system memory leak. More Information: CSCvc54788. Known Affected Releases: 15.2(5.4.32i)E2. Known Fixed Releases: 15.2(5.4.62i)E2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3812 resides within the Common Industrial Protocol implementation of Cisco Industrial Ethernet 2000 Series Switches, representing a critical security flaw that impacts industrial network infrastructure. This issue specifically affects the switch's handling of CIP traffic, which is fundamental to industrial automation and control systems where reliable network communication is paramount. The vulnerability manifests as a memory leak condition that occurs during normal operation of the switch's industrial protocol processing capabilities, creating a pathway for remote exploitation without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate memory management within the CIP processing module of these industrial switches. When the switch receives specially crafted CIP packets, the memory allocation mechanisms fail to properly release allocated resources, leading to progressive memory consumption over time. This memory leak eventually results in the switch becoming unresponsive and unable to process legitimate network traffic, effectively causing a denial of service condition that can severely impact industrial operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network protocol level, making it difficult to detect through conventional network monitoring tools and allowing attackers to remain undetected while consuming system resources.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to potentially compromise industrial automation systems that rely on continuous network availability. The DoS condition can lead to production line shutdowns, sensor data loss, and control system malfunctions that may result in significant financial losses and safety risks. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the industrial network perimeter, potentially targeting critical infrastructure without requiring physical access or insider knowledge. This characteristic aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the network service providers and remote service exposure tactics, where attackers leverage protocol implementation flaws to gain unauthorized access to industrial systems.
The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for industrial environments where network segmentation may be limited or compromised. Organizations using affected Cisco Industrial Ethernet 2000 Series Switches should prioritize immediate remediation through the available software updates, specifically targeting the fixed releases 15.2(5.4.62i)E2 or later versions that contain the necessary memory management fixes. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous CIP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while considering additional network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in industrial control networks. This vulnerability exemplifies the broader challenge of securing industrial control systems where legacy protocols and security considerations often conflict, requiring careful balance between operational requirements and security controls. The issue relates to CWE-401 which describes improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, and represents a significant concern for organizations implementing the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for industrial environments, particularly in sectors requiring continuous operation such as manufacturing, energy, and process control industries.