CVE-2023-21758 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2023
Windows Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Extension Denial of Service Vulnerability. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2023-21677, CVE-2023-21683.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2023
The Windows Internet Key Exchange IKE extension denial of service vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the core networking security infrastructure of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects the IKE protocol implementation within Windows environments, which serves as the foundation for establishing secure communication channels through IPsec connections. The issue manifests when the IKE extension component fails to properly handle certain malformed or crafted network packets, leading to unexpected system behavior that can result in complete service disruption. Unlike similar vulnerabilities such as CVE-2023-21677 and CVE-2023-21683 which target different aspects of the Windows security framework, CVE-2023-21758 focuses specifically on the IKE extension layer that facilitates key exchange operations between network entities. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the IKE extension module, where the system does not properly sanitize incoming packets before processing them through the key exchange protocol. This flaw creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to craft malicious packets that trigger memory corruption or resource exhaustion within the IKE extension service.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends specially crafted IKE packets to a vulnerable Windows system, specifically targeting the extension mechanisms that handle various key exchange parameters and negotiation processes. The flaw exists in the packet parsing logic where the system fails to validate the length, format, or content of received IKE extension data before attempting to process it. When the IKE extension service encounters malformed data structures or unexpected parameter combinations, it can cause the service to crash or enter an unstable state, resulting in a denial of service condition that affects all IPsec connections and secure communications through the affected system. This vulnerability operates at the network protocol level and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure components that rely on IKE for secure communications. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the denial of service can affect critical network security functions including remote access VPN connections, site-to-site network connections, and any system relying on IPsec for secure data transmission. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically addressing insufficient validation of input data that leads to system instability. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, where adversaries leverage protocol weaknesses to disrupt network services and communication channels.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-21758 extends far beyond individual system compromise, affecting entire network infrastructures that depend on Windows-based IKE implementations for secure communications. Organizations running Windows servers, domain controllers, and network appliances that utilize IPsec connections for secure communications face significant risk of service disruption when this vulnerability is exploited. The vulnerability particularly impacts remote access solutions, enterprise network segmentation, and secure inter-network communication channels that rely on IKE for key exchange operations. Network administrators may experience complete loss of secure communication capabilities across affected systems, forcing organizations to implement emergency mitigation procedures or temporarily disable IPsec functionality. The cascading effects of this vulnerability can be severe in enterprise environments where multiple systems depend on secure communication channels for business continuity, potentially affecting critical infrastructure components such as Active Directory services, database connections, and secure file transfers. Recovery from exploitation typically requires system restarts and may necessitate security updates or patches to restore normal service operations. Organizations with extensive IPsec deployments face particularly high risk as a single exploited vulnerability can potentially disrupt secure communications across multiple network segments and services, making this a high-priority security concern for network security teams. The vulnerability's remote exploitability and lack of authentication requirements means that attackers can target multiple systems simultaneously without requiring prior access to the network, amplifying the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempt.