CVE-2018-0228 : Security Advisory and Response

A security flaw in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) devices could lead to a denial of service (DoS) scenario due to high CPU utilization.

Understanding CVE-2018-0228

What is CVE-2018-0228?

This vulnerability affects the function responsible for creating ingress flows in Cisco ASA devices, potentially allowing unauthorized remote attackers to exploit the flaw and cause a DoS condition.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0228

The vulnerability could lead to a denial of service (DoS) scenario on affected systems by exhausting CPU resources, causing delays in traffic passing through the device.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0228

Vulnerability Description

The flaw is attributed to an error in handling an internal software lock, hindering CPU allocation to other system processes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco products impacted include ASA devices, Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software, and various series of security appliances and firewalls.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting the vulnerability involves sending malicious IP packets to create connections on the targeted device, leading to CPU resource exhaustion.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.
Monitor CPU utilization on affected devices for any unusual spikes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all Cisco devices to prevent security vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to mitigate the vulnerability, and users are advised to apply them promptly.