CVE-2018-0381 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A weakness has been discovered in the software used by Cisco Aironet Series Access Points (APs), potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) situation.

Understanding CVE-2018-0381

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Cisco Aironet Access Points that could allow an attacker to cause the affected device to unexpectedly restart, resulting in a DoS condition.

What is CVE-2018-0381?

The vulnerability arises from a situation where the affected AP gets stuck while trying to release aggregated traffic meant for a wireless client controlled by the attacker. By transitioning between multiple SSIDs on the same AP and replicating traffic patterns, the attacker can trigger the AP to get stuck, leading to a DoS situation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0381

The vulnerability could allow a nearby attacker with proper authentication to cause the affected device to unexpectedly restart, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0381

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A weakness in the Cisco Aironet Series Access Points software could allow an authenticated attacker to cause an affected device to reload unexpectedly, resulting in a DoS condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Aironet Access Points
Versions affected: 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.7

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker triggers the AP to get stuck by transitioning between multiple SSIDs on the same AP and replicating traffic patterns.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2018-0381.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Restrict network access to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all network devices and software.
Conduct security training for employees to recognize and report potential security threats.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has likely released patches or updates to address this vulnerability. Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest security fixes.