CVE-2024-51406 in SDN Open Flow Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2024
Floodlight SDN Open Flow Controller v.1.2 has an issue that allows local hosts to build fake LLDP packets that allow specific clusters to be missed by Floodlight, which in turn leads to missed hosts inside and outside the cluster.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51406 affects Floodlight SDN Open Flow Controller version 1.2 and represents a significant security flaw in network infrastructure management. This issue stems from the controller's insufficient validation mechanisms for Link Layer Discovery Protocol packets, which are critical for network topology discovery and host identification within software-defined networking environments. The flaw enables local attackers to construct fabricated LLDP frames that can deceive the Floodlight controller into ignoring specific network clusters, thereby creating blind spots in network monitoring and management capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the controller's packet processing logic where LLDP frames are not adequately authenticated or validated before being processed. When malicious actors craft spoofed LLDP packets, they can manipulate the controller's understanding of network topology by presenting false cluster information. This manipulation occurs at the network layer where the Floodlight controller relies on LLDP data to maintain accurate host and cluster mappings within its internal database. The vulnerability specifically impacts the controller's ability to properly enumerate and track network hosts, creating scenarios where legitimate network entities become invisible to the SDN management system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk to network security and management integrity. When clusters are missed due to forged LLDP packets, the Floodlight controller cannot properly account for hosts within those segments, potentially allowing malicious actors to establish persistent network footholds without detection. The impact extends beyond simple visibility issues as it compromises the controller's ability to enforce proper network policies and respond to security incidents in affected network segments. Network administrators lose critical information about their infrastructure, making incident response and network troubleshooting significantly more challenging. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service discovery and T1059 for command and control communications.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of enhanced packet validation mechanisms within the Floodlight controller. Network administrators should implement strict LLDP packet validation that includes cryptographic signature verification or sequence number checking to ensure packet authenticity. Additionally, deploying network segmentation controls and implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous LLDP traffic patterns can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular network topology audits and baseline comparisons should be established to quickly identify when clusters are being missed or when host enumeration becomes inconsistent. The controller should be updated to a patched version that implements proper LLDP packet authentication and validation procedures, as outlined in the vendor's security advisory. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control measures that limit local host privileges and monitor for unauthorized packet generation within their SDN environments.