CVE-2018-0346 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the Zero Touch Provisioning service of the Cisco SD-WAN Solution could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The flaw was discovered on July 18, 2018, impacting specific Cisco products running versions prior to Release 18.3.0.

Understanding CVE-2018-0346

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the Cisco SD-WAN Solution that could be exploited by a remote attacker to disrupt device operation through a DoS attack.

What is CVE-2018-0346?

The vulnerability in the Zero Touch Provisioning service of the Cisco SD-WAN Solution allows attackers to send malicious packets, triggering a buffer overflow and causing affected devices to reload, resulting in a temporary disruption of service.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0346

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability without authentication, disrupting device functionality and causing a DoS condition.
Affected devices reload due to buffer overflow, leading to temporary service disruption.
Only traffic specifically targeted at affected devices can exploit this vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0346

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper checks for certain values in packets sent to the Zero Touch Provisioning service, leading to a buffer overflow during packet processing.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco SD-WAN Solution versions prior to Release 18.3.0 are vulnerable.
Specifically impacts vBond Orchestrator Software, vManage Network Management Software, and vSmart Controller Software.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by sending malicious packets to the affected software.
Buffer overflow occurs during packet processing, causing affected devices to reload.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate the CVE-2018-0346 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected Cisco SD-WAN Solution devices to Release 18.3.0 or later.
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure to potential attackers.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update network security measures.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

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