CVE-2020-3164 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco AsyncOS for Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA), Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA), and Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA) could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to cause high CPU usage on an affected device, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Understanding CVE-2020-3164

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Cisco products that could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-3164?

The vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco ESA, WSA, and SMA allows an attacker to trigger high CPU usage, causing a DoS condition by sending a malformed HTTP request.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3164

The vulnerability could result in high CPU utilization on affected devices, leading to degraded performance and response time.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3164

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper validation of specific HTTP request headers, allowing attackers to exploit it through malformed requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA)
Vendor: Cisco
Version: Unspecified

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
CVSS Base Score: 5.3 (Medium)
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability is crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches promptly.
Monitor CPU usage for any unusual spikes.
Implement network-level controls to filter out malicious traffic.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing.
Educate users on safe browsing habits and phishing awareness.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the vendor's security advisory for patch availability and installation instructions.