CVE-2017-12281 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the implementation of Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) functionality for standalone configurations of Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Access Points could allow an unauthenticated attacker to bypass authentication and connect to an affected device.

Understanding CVE-2017-12281

This CVE involves a flaw in the PEAP implementation in Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Access Points, potentially enabling unauthorized access to compromised devices.

What is CVE-2017-12281?

The vulnerability arises from an incorrect default configuration setting of fail open in standalone mode, allowing nearby attackers to bypass authentication and establish connections with compromised devices.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12281

Attackers can exploit the flaw to connect to compromised devices without authentication, posing a security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12281

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability affects Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Access Points running vulnerable software releases with specific WLAN configuration settings.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Access Points
Versions: Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Access Points

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by attempting to connect to compromised devices, leveraging the fail open configuration setting.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures to address and prevent the CVE-2017-12281 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected devices with the latest software releases and security patches.
Implement network segmentation to restrict unauthorized access.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify vulnerabilities.
Train employees on cybersecurity best practices to enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for and apply software updates and patches provided by Cisco to mitigate the vulnerability.