CVE-2018-0469 in IOS XE
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web user interface of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause an affected device to reload. The vulnerability is due to a double-free-in-memory handling by the affected software when specific HTTP requests are processed. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending specific HTTP requests to the web user interface of the affected software. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to reload, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have access to the management interface of the affected software, which is typically connected to a restricted management network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0469 represents a critical memory handling flaw within Cisco IOS XE Software's web user interface component. This issue stems from improper memory management practices that manifest as a double-free condition when processing specific HTTP requests. The vulnerability resides in the software's handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes, where the same memory block is freed twice, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability. The flaw specifically affects devices running Cisco IOS XE Software versions that include the vulnerable web interface functionality, making it a widespread concern across numerous network infrastructure devices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to send specifically crafted HTTP requests to the affected device's web management interface. This double-free condition occurs during the processing of these requests, where the software's memory management routines fail to properly track memory blocks that are being freed multiple times. The vulnerability is classified as a memory corruption issue that can be leveraged to trigger a device reload, effectively causing a denial of service condition. The attack vector is remote and unauthenticated, meaning that an attacker does not require valid credentials or physical access to the device to exploit this flaw, though they must have network access to the management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as the device reload process can temporarily interrupt network connectivity and services that depend on the affected device. Organizations using Cisco IOS XE Software across their network infrastructure face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited by attackers to create persistent DoS conditions that may go undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability affects devices that are typically connected to restricted management networks, but this protection is insufficient against determined attackers who can gain access through various attack vectors including network reconnaissance, credential theft, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities that may provide initial access to the management interface.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a manifestation of CWE-415, which describes improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation that can lead to double-free conditions. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access and potentially escalate privileges within network infrastructure. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates, restricting access to management interfaces through network segmentation, and implementing robust monitoring for unusual device reload patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of memory safety in network infrastructure software and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of web interface components that handle external inputs.