CVE-2023-40459 in ALEOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
The ACEManager component of ALEOS 4.16 and earlier does not adequately perform input sanitization during authentication, which could potentially result in a Denial of Service (DoS) condition for ACEManager without impairing other router functions. ACEManager recovers from the DoS condition by restarting within ten seconds of becoming unavailable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-40459 affects the ACEManager component within ALEOS 4.16 and earlier versions, representing a significant security weakness that could be exploited to disrupt network operations. This issue stems from inadequate input sanitization practices during the authentication process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to potentially compromise system availability. The affected ACEManager component serves as a critical element within the router's architecture, handling authentication requests and managing access control functions that are essential for maintaining network security and operational continuity.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation and sanitization of user inputs received during authentication procedures within the ACEManager module. When authentication requests are processed without proper input validation, attackers can potentially inject malformed or malicious data that triggers unexpected behavior within the system. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication handling mechanism, where input sanitization failures create opportunities for exploitation that could lead to system instability. The weakness allows for the injection of crafted inputs that may cause the ACEManager component to enter a state where it becomes unresponsive or unable to process legitimate authentication requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it creates a potential denial of service condition that specifically targets the ACEManager functionality while leaving other router operations unaffected. This selective disruption means that network administrators may experience partial service degradation where authentication services become unavailable, potentially preventing legitimate users from accessing network resources while other router functions continue to operate normally. The system's recovery mechanism, which involves automatic restart within ten seconds of becoming unavailable, indicates that the DoS condition is severe enough to cause complete service interruption but not so catastrophic as to require manual intervention or extended downtime.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security implementations. This classification emphasizes that the root cause lies in the absence of proper input sanitization measures that should be implemented during authentication processing. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, where attackers can exploit weaknesses in authentication mechanisms to create service disruptions. The specific nature of this vulnerability suggests that attackers could potentially leverage it to repeatedly cause service interruptions, creating a persistent availability issue that could impact network reliability and user access to critical services.
Organizations utilizing affected ALEOS versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor updates that address the input sanitization deficiencies in the ACEManager component. The implementation of proper input validation controls and authentication request sanitization measures represents the primary mitigation strategy to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual authentication request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within other network components that may be susceptible to similar input validation weaknesses.