CVE-2020-3260 in Aironet
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Aironet Series Access Points Software could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to the improper processing of client packets that are sent to an affected access point (AP). An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of sustained client packets to the affected AP. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected AP to crash, resulting in a DoS condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3260 affects Cisco Aironet Series Access Points, representing a significant security concern for wireless network infrastructure. This flaw exists within the software implementation of these network devices, specifically in how they handle incoming client packets from adjacent network locations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and packet processing mechanisms that fail to properly handle malformed or excessive client communications. The affected devices operate in environments where wireless access points serve as critical network entry points, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to disrupt network operations.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2020-3260 relies on an adjacent attacker who can send sustained streams of client packets directly to the vulnerable access point. This type of attack falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks where the attacker overwhelms the device's processing capabilities through continuous packet flooding. The improper processing of these packets leads to memory corruption or buffer overflows within the access point's software stack, ultimately causing the device to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This vulnerability specifically targets the packet handling routines that process client authentication and association requests, which are fundamental functions of wireless access points.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption as it can compromise the availability of wireless services for legitimate users within the affected network segment. When an access point becomes unavailable due to this DoS condition, all wireless clients connected to that device lose network connectivity, potentially affecting business operations, emergency communications, or critical infrastructure services. The sustained nature of the attack means that even if the initial crash is resolved, repeated exploitation can maintain ongoing service disruption. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and institutional networks where wireless access points serve as primary network access points for employees, guests, and IoT devices.
Organizations should implement network segmentation strategies to limit adjacent access to wireless infrastructure and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual packet traffic patterns. Cisco has released software updates addressing this vulnerability through the publication of security advisories that include patched firmware versions. Network administrators should also consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms and access control lists to restrict client packet processing rates. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which covers "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their wireless infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities and maintain updated patch management procedures to ensure timely remediation of known security flaws.