CVE-2020-3262 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol handler of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of CAPWAP packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a malformed CAPWAP packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to restart, resulting in a DoS condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3262 resides within the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points protocol handler of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller software, representing a critical security weakness that affects wireless network infrastructure. This flaw specifically targets the CAPWAP protocol implementation which serves as the primary communication channel between wireless access points and wireless controllers in enterprise wireless networks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the CAPWAP packet processing logic, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the transmission of malformed CAPWAP packets to affected Cisco WLC devices, where the insufficient validation of incoming protocol data allows maliciously crafted packets to bypass normal processing controls. When the vulnerable system attempts to process these malformed packets, the inadequate validation leads to system instability and subsequent restart conditions. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes insufficient input validation, and demonstrates how protocol-level weaknesses can translate into system-wide availability disruptions. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be executed from remote locations, making it accessible to a broad range of potential threat actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3262 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise enterprise wireless network availability and business continuity. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause affected wireless controllers to restart automatically, leading to complete loss of wireless connectivity for connected devices and access points. This DoS condition affects not only the wireless infrastructure but can also impact downstream systems that depend on wireless connectivity for operations. Network administrators may experience extended downtime while troubleshooting and implementing mitigations, potentially affecting critical business processes that rely on wireless network services. The vulnerability affects multiple Cisco WLC software versions and is particularly dangerous in environments where wireless connectivity is essential for business operations, such as healthcare facilities, financial institutions, and manufacturing plants.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-3262 should include immediate deployment of Cisco's security patches and updates, which address the insufficient validation issues in the CAPWAP protocol handler. Network segmentation and access control measures can help reduce the attack surface by limiting direct access to WLC management interfaces from untrusted networks. Implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous CAPWAP traffic patterns enables early identification of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of protocol-level security controls and proper input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.002 which covers network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed CAPWAP packets and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing wireless infrastructure DoS conditions. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of wireless infrastructure components are essential to identify and remediate similar protocol-level weaknesses before they can be exploited by adversaries.