CVE-2018-15377 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Network Plug and Play agent, also referred to as the Cisco Open Plug-n-Play agent, of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a memory leak on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending invalid data to the Cisco Network Plug and Play agent on an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a memory leak on the affected device, which could cause the device to reload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15377 resides within the Cisco Network Plug and Play agent, alternatively known as the Cisco Open Plug-n-Play agent, which operates within Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software environments. This critical security flaw represents a significant concern for network infrastructure administrators as it exposes devices to potential remote exploitation without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms implemented within the affected software components, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt network operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient validation controls where the Cisco Network Plug and Play agent fails to properly sanitize incoming data streams. Attackers can exploit this weakness by transmitting malformed or invalid data packets directly to the Network Plug and Play agent service running on affected Cisco devices. The lack of proper input validation allows these malicious payloads to traverse the system's defenses and directly impact the memory management subsystem of the device. This particular flaw manifests as a memory leak condition that gradually consumes available system resources, ultimately leading to device instability and potential service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-15377 extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as it can result in complete device reloads and network service interruptions that affect enterprise and organizational infrastructure. When the memory leak reaches critical thresholds, the affected Cisco device may automatically reboot or become unresponsive, creating denial of service conditions that can persist until manual intervention occurs. Network administrators face significant challenges in mitigating this vulnerability as the exploitation requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for devices with exposed network interfaces. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Cisco IOS and IOS XE software versions, amplifying its potential impact across various network deployments.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be implemented in all network services. The threat landscape for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers "Unauthorized Access to System Resources," and T1566.001, addressing "Phishing via Social Engineering," as attackers may leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to network infrastructure. Organizations must implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected devices, applying relevant software patches from Cisco, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity targeting the Network Plug and Play agent. Additionally, implementing network access controls and disabling unnecessary services can help reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in network infrastructure software and the potential consequences when such validation mechanisms fail to properly secure system components.