CVE-2017-3832 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web management interface of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to a missing internal handler for the specific request. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by accessing a specific hidden URL on the GUI web management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a reload of the device, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects only the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller 8.3.102.0 release. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvb48198.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3832 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Cisco Wireless LAN Controller software versions, specifically impacting release 8.3.102.0. This issue resides within the web management interface of the wireless controller, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by unauthenticated remote attackers. The vulnerability stems from an inadequate internal request handling mechanism that fails to properly process specific requests directed to hidden URLs within the graphical user interface. Security researchers have identified that this flaw manifests when the web server component encounters requests for non-existent or improperly handled internal paths, leading to unexpected system behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct access to a specific hidden URL within the web management interface of the affected Cisco WLC devices. When an attacker accesses this particular endpoint, the system's internal handler fails to properly manage the request, resulting in a cascading failure condition that ultimately triggers a device reload operation. This reload process effectively creates a denial of service condition by temporarily removing the wireless controller's ability to manage wireless access points and maintain network connectivity for connected devices. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices within the web server implementation, where the system does not adequately sanitize or reject malformed requests destined for internal components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to wireless network infrastructure reliability and availability. Network administrators managing Cisco WLC deployments with version 8.3.102.0 face potential disruption of wireless services that could affect thousands of connected devices simultaneously. The DoS condition caused by the vulnerability can result in complete network outages for wireless clients, including mobile devices, laptops, and IoT endpoints that depend on the wireless infrastructure. The attack vector's remote nature means that adversaries can exploit this condition from outside the network perimeter without requiring any authentication credentials, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where wireless controllers are exposed to untrusted networks or the internet.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which describes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and specifically relates to the lack of proper request handling that leads to system resource exhaustion or unexpected restart conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service" within the Defense Evasion and Impact domains, as it enables attackers to disrupt wireless network services through system-level manipulation. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of T1190, "Exploit Public-Facing Application," since the vulnerability exists in a publicly accessible web interface component. Cisco's identification of this issue under Bug ID CSCvb48198 indicates the company recognized the severity of the problem and implemented a patch to address the missing internal handler functionality. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability to maintain network availability and prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors seeking to disrupt wireless services. The incident highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing for web application interfaces and proper error handling mechanisms in network infrastructure devices to prevent unauthorized system manipulation and maintain service availability.