CVE-2017-12246 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software could allow an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition by exploiting the direct authentication feature.

Understanding CVE-2017-12246

This CVE involves a flaw in the implementation of the direct authentication feature in Cisco ASA Software, potentially leading to unexpected device restarts.

What is CVE-2017-12246?

The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of the HTTP header, enabling an attacker to send a crafted HTTP request to the affected device's local IP address, triggering a restart.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12246

Attackers without authentication privileges can remotely cause affected devices to restart, leading to DoS situations.
Affected Cisco products include ASA 5500 Series, ASA 5500-X Series, ASA Services Module, Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches, Cisco 7600 Series Routers, and more.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12246

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw lies in the direct authentication feature implementation in Cisco ASA Software.
Exploiting the inadequate HTTP header validation can lead to unexpected device restarts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco products impacted include ASA 5500 Series, ASA 5500-X Series, ASA Services Module, and more.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers need to send a carefully crafted HTTP request to the local IP address of the affected device to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-12246 is crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly.
Monitor network traffic for signs of exploitation.
Restrict network access to affected devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Cisco.