CVE-2019-1800 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the handling of Inter-Access Point Protocol (IAPP) messages by Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability exist because the software improperly validates input on fields within IAPP messages. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending malicious IAPP messages to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the Cisco WLC Software to reload, resulting in a DoS condition. Software versions prior to 8.2.170.0, 8.5.150.0, and 8.8.100.0 are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1800 resides within Cisco Wireless LAN Controller software and represents a critical denial of service weakness that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms. This flaw specifically targets the Inter-Access Point Protocol message processing capabilities of the wireless infrastructure, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by adjacent attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability manifests when the software fails to properly validate fields within IAPP messages, which are essential components for communication between wireless access points and the central controller. The affected software versions include releases prior to 8.2.170.0, 8.5.150.0, and 8.8.100.0, indicating this weakness has persisted across multiple software branches and represents a significant security gap in enterprise wireless networks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the crafting and transmission of malicious IAPP messages to a targeted Cisco WLC device. These specially formatted messages contain malformed or unexpected data within the IAPP protocol fields that the software does not properly sanitize or validate. When the vulnerable system processes these malicious inputs, the improper validation leads to a critical software state that ultimately triggers a system reload or restart. This process effectively creates a denial of service condition where legitimate wireless network operations are disrupted, access points lose connectivity to the controller, and end-user wireless services become unavailable. The attack vector requires physical or network proximity to the target device, classifying this as an adjacent attacker scenario that does not require complex network traversal or advanced privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1800 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass significant business continuity concerns for organizations relying on wireless infrastructure. Network administrators face potential downtime that can affect productivity across enterprise environments, particularly in scenarios where wireless networks support critical business applications, mobile workforces, or IoT device connectivity. The automatic system reload mechanism means that the DoS condition is not easily recoverable without manual intervention, potentially requiring system administrators to perform restart procedures or implement temporary network workarounds. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be particularly disruptive in mission-critical environments such as healthcare facilities, financial institutions, or transportation hubs where wireless connectivity is essential for operations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates to versions 8.2.170.0, 8.5.150.0, or 8.8.100.0, depending on their current software deployment. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit physical access to wireless controllers, reducing the attack surface for adjacent attackers. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual IAPP message patterns or traffic anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how protocol implementation flaws can create remote denial of service conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique for network denial of service and demonstrates how weaknesses in network infrastructure components can create persistent security risks that require ongoing vigilance and patch management processes.