CVE-2017-6653 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in the TCP throttling process for the GUI of the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 2.1(0.474) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device where the ISE GUI may fail to respond to new or established connection requests. The vulnerability is due to insufficient TCP rate limiting protection on the GUI. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending the affected device a high rate of TCP connections to the GUI. An exploit could allow the attacker to cause the GUI to stop responding while the high rate of connections is in progress. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc81803.

Understanding CVE-2017-6653

This CVE relates to a vulnerability in the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 2.1(0.474) that could be exploited by an unauthorized remote attacker to disrupt the normal functioning of the affected device, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) situation.

What is CVE-2017-6653?

The vulnerability in CVE-2017-6653 is a flaw in the way the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 2.1(0.474) handles the TCP throttling process for its graphical user interface (GUI). It allows an attacker to disrupt the device's functioning by sending a large number of TCP connection requests to the GUI.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6653

The vulnerability could lead to a denial of service (DoS) situation, causing the GUI to become unresponsive until the excessive connection attempts cease. This could result in a significant disruption to the device's normal operation.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6653

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from insufficient protection against excessive TCP connection attempts on the GUI of the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 2.1(0.474).

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Identity Services Engine
Version: Cisco Identity Services Engine

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a large number of TCP connection requests to the GUI of the targeted device, causing it to become unresponsive.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches and updates provided by Cisco to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any unusual patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is updated with the latest patches and security fixes to address the vulnerability effectively.