CVE-2017-6612 in ASR 5000
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) of Cisco ASR 5000 Series Aggregation Services Routers 17.3.9.62033 through 21.1.2 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to redirect HTTP traffic sent to an affected device. More Information: CSCvc67927.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6612 resides within the gateway gprs support node component of Cisco ASR 5000 Series Aggregation Services Routers, specifically affecting software versions ranging from 17.3.9.62033 through 21.1.2. This critical flaw represents a significant security weakness in the network infrastructure that serves as a gateway for mobile data traffic, potentially allowing unauthorized manipulation of data flows. The affected devices operate as crucial components in mobile network backbones, handling packet data protocol (pdp) contexts and managing connections between mobile devices and external networks through the gprs support node functionality.
This vulnerability stems from improper handling of http traffic redirection mechanisms within the ggsn implementation, creating an attack surface that enables unauthenticated remote exploitation. The flaw allows an attacker positioned outside the network perimeter to manipulate routing decisions and redirect http requests intended for legitimate destinations to malicious endpoints. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes information exposure, and CWE-284, which covers improper access control mechanisms, as the system fails to properly validate traffic redirection requests. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where gprs support node functionality interfaces with http protocols, creating a path for man-in-the-middle attacks that can intercept and redirect user traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple traffic redirection, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of mobile data communications flowing through affected routers. Network administrators face significant risk of data interception, where sensitive information including login credentials, personal data, and business communications could be captured by attackers. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can operate from any location with internet connectivity, eliminating the need for physical access or insider knowledge. This vulnerability affects the fundamental trust model of mobile network infrastructure, potentially enabling large-scale surveillance operations or data theft campaigns targeting mobile users within the affected network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6612 require immediate implementation of software updates from Cisco, specifically addressing the ggsn traffic redirection handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical infrastructure and establish monitoring protocols for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate redirection attempts. The implementation of secure http protocols including strict transport security policies and certificate pinning can help protect against some exploitation vectors. Security controls should include regular network traffic analysis to detect anomalous routing behavior and enforcement of access control lists that restrict unauthorized redirection capabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for phishing techniques, as attackers may leverage the traffic redirection for social engineering campaigns. Organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify and alert on suspicious gprs support node traffic patterns, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and similar vulnerabilities in mobile network infrastructure components.