CVE-2017-3834 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A security weakness has been discovered in the Cisco Aironet 1830 Series and Cisco Aironet 1850 Series Access Points running Cisco Mobility Express Software, allowing remote attackers to gain full control over the affected devices.

Understanding CVE-2017-3834

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in specific Cisco Aironet Access Points that could be exploited by attackers to take complete control of the devices.

What is CVE-2017-3834?

The vulnerability in Cisco Aironet 1830 Series and 1850 Series Access Points running Cisco Mobility Express Software enables unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit default login credentials and gain full control over the device.

The Impact of CVE-2017-3834

Attackers can achieve complete control over affected devices without authentication.
The presence of default credentials in the software allows unauthorized access.
Successful exploitation grants attackers elevated privileges and full device control.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-3834

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from default login credentials in Cisco Mobility Express Software, affecting devices regardless of their configuration as master, subordinate, or standalone access points.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco Aironet 1830 Series and 1850 Series Access Points running any 8.2.x release of Cisco Mobility Express Software before Release 8.2.111.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with layer 3 connectivity can use Secure Shell (SSH) to log in with elevated privileges, leading to complete device control.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-3834 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected devices to Cisco Mobility Express Software Release 8.2.111.0 or later.
Change default login credentials to strong, unique passwords.
Restrict network access to the devices to prevent unauthorized connections.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit device logs for any suspicious activities.
Implement network segmentation to isolate critical devices from potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability effectively.