CVE-2018-0310 in FXOS
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Fabric Services component of Cisco FXOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to obtain sensitive information from memory or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on the affected product. The vulnerability exists because the affected software insufficiently validates header values in Cisco Fabric Services packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted Cisco Fabric Services packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a buffer overread condition, which could allow the attacker to obtain sensitive information from memory or cause a DoS condition on the affected product. This vulnerability affects Firepower 4100 Series Next-Generation Firewalls, Firepower 9300 Security Appliance, MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches, Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders, Nexus 3000 Series Switches, Nexus 3500 Platform Switches, Nexus 5500 Platform Switches, Nexus 5600 Platform Switches, Nexus 6000 Series Switches, Nexus 7000 Series Switches, Nexus 7700 Series Switches, Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode, Nexus 9500 R-Series Line Cards and Fabric Modules, UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnects, UCS 6200 Series Fabric Interconnects, UCS 6300 Series Fabric Interconnects. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd69957, CSCve02435, CSCve04859, CSCve41536, CSCve41538, CSCve41559.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0310 resides within the Cisco Fabric Services component of multiple Cisco networking products, representing a critical security weakness that impacts a broad range of enterprise networking infrastructure. This flaw manifests in the insufficient validation of header values within Cisco Fabric Services packets, creating a pathway for unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit the system. The vulnerability affects numerous Cisco products including Firepower appliances, MDS switches, Nexus series switches, and UCS fabric interconnects, making it particularly concerning for large enterprise networks where these devices form critical components of the infrastructure. The weakness specifically targets the processing of incoming Fabric Services packets, where the software fails to properly sanitize or validate the header fields before processing them, creating an environment where maliciously crafted packets can trigger unexpected behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending specifically crafted Cisco Fabric Services packets to affected devices, which then triggers a buffer overread condition in the software's processing logic. This buffer overread allows attackers to read data from memory locations that should remain protected or inaccessible, potentially exposing sensitive information such as credentials, system configuration details, or other confidential data stored in memory. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond mere information disclosure, as it can also lead to denial of service conditions that can disrupt network operations and compromise availability of critical networking services. The root cause aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which describes the condition where software reads data past the end of a valid buffer, often resulting in information disclosure or system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise security postures and network reliability. Organizations utilizing affected Cisco networking equipment face potential exposure to remote attackers who could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information or cause service disruptions through denial of service attacks. The broad impact across multiple product lines means that enterprises with heterogeneous networking environments may face cascading security implications, as attackers could potentially compromise multiple network segments through a single exploit. The vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature makes it particularly dangerous as it requires no prior access credentials or network proximity to exploit, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise network infrastructure at scale.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-0310 aligns with several tactics and techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access and privilege escalation through network infrastructure compromise. This vulnerability can be categorized under T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an exploit of a publicly accessible network service component. The information disclosure aspect of the vulnerability corresponds to T1005: Data from Local System or T1041: Exfiltration Over C2 Channel, while the DoS capabilities align with T1499: Endpoint Denial of Service. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Cisco product lines also underscores the importance of comprehensive vulnerability management programs that can address issues across diverse networking equipment types.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve applying official Cisco software updates and patches that address the header validation weakness in the Fabric Services component. Organizations should prioritize patching affected devices as soon as possible, particularly those running in critical network segments or handling sensitive data. Network administrators should also consider implementing network access controls to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring for suspicious Fabric Services traffic patterns. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue also suggests that organizations should implement memory protection mechanisms and regular system integrity checks to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software versions and ensure complete remediation across their entire network infrastructure to prevent potential attackers from leveraging this weakness to compromise their security posture.