CVE-2017-3853 in IOx
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Data-in-Motion (DMo) process installed with the Cisco IOx application environment could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a stack overflow that could allow remote code execution with root privileges in the virtual instance running on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient bounds checking in the DMo process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted packets that are forwarded to the DMo process for evaluation. The impacts of a successful exploit are limited to the scope of the virtual instance and do not impact the router that is hosting Cisco IOx. This vulnerability affects the following Cisco 800 Series Industrial Integrated Services Routers: Cisco IR809 and Cisco IR829. Cisco IOx Releases 1.0.0.0 and 1.1.0.0 are vulnerable. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCuy52330.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-3853 represents a critical stack overflow flaw within the Data-in-Motion (DMo) process of Cisco IOx application environment. This vulnerability exists in the context of industrial networking equipment, specifically affecting Cisco 800 Series Industrial Integrated Services Routers including the Cisco IR809 and Cisco IR829 models. The flaw manifests as insufficient bounds checking in the DMo process, creating a condition where malicious input can overwrite stack memory regions. According to the Cisco Bug ID CSCuy52330, this vulnerability was present in Cisco IOx Releases 1.0.0.0 and 1.1.0.0, indicating that the issue persisted across multiple versions of the IOx platform. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes Stack-based Buffer Overflow, and represents a serious security weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers without authentication.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the delivery of crafted packets that are forwarded to the DMo process for evaluation. When these malicious packets are processed by the vulnerable DMo component, the insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to trigger a stack overflow condition. This overflow can be carefully constructed to overwrite return addresses and control registers, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution within the virtual instance. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows for execution with root privileges within the isolated virtual environment, though the impact is contained to the scope of the virtual instance itself. The attack vector is remote and unauthenticated, meaning that an attacker could exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring any prior credentials or access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant within industrial network environments where these routers are deployed. While the vulnerability does not directly affect the host router itself, the compromise of the virtual instance running on the Cisco IOx platform could lead to complete control over the applications and services running within that isolated environment. This could potentially disrupt industrial operations, compromise sensitive data processing, or provide a foothold for further attacks within the industrial control system network. The limited scope of impact to the virtual instance rather than the physical router itself represents a containment mechanism, but does not diminish the severity of the potential compromise. The vulnerability affects industrial-grade networking equipment that typically operates in critical infrastructure environments, where reliability and security are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through Cisco's official security advisories and firmware updates. Organizations should prioritize updating their affected Cisco 800 Series routers to versions that contain patches for the DMo process buffer overflow. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts should be deployed. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code within the compromised virtual instance. Regular security assessments of industrial control systems and network infrastructure should include verification of IOx environment configurations to ensure that vulnerable versions are not running in production environments.