CVE-2017-3856 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2017-3856, a vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE 3.1 through 3.17 that allows remote attackers to cause device reloads, leading to denial of service (DoS) situations. Find mitigation steps and preventive measures here.
A vulnerability in the web user interface of Cisco IOS XE 3.1 through 3.17 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause an affected device to reload. The flaw arises from insufficient resource handling under high load, potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) situation.
Understanding CVE-2017-3856
This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE that could be exploited by an attacker to force a device reload, causing a DoS condition.
What is CVE-2017-3856?
The vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE 3.1 through 3.17 allows a remote attacker without authentication to send numerous requests to the web user interface, leading to a device reload and DoS situation.
The Impact of CVE-2017-3856
- Successful exploitation could result in a denial of service (DoS) condition by forcing the affected device to reload.
- The attacker must have access to the management interface of the affected software to exploit this flaw.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-3856
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in Cisco IOS XE 3.1 through 3.17 stems from inadequate resource handling during high load on the web user interface, allowing an attacker to trigger a device reload.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Cisco IOS XE
- Versions: 3.1 through 3.17
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker needs to send a high volume of requests to the web user interface of the affected software, causing the device to reload.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-3856 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Disable the web user interface if not required for operation.
- Implement network segmentation to restrict access to the management interface.
- Monitor network traffic for any unusual patterns that may indicate an attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch Cisco IOS XE software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability in affected versions of Cisco IOS XE software.