CVE-2020-3220 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in the hardware crypto driver of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco 4300 Series Integrated Services Routers and Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controllers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to disconnect legitimate IPsec VPN sessions to an affected device.

Understanding CVE-2020-3220

This CVE involves a denial of service vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software.

What is CVE-2020-3220?

The vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software allows an attacker to disrupt IPsec VPN sessions by manipulating ESP packets.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3220

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.8, indicating a medium severity level with high availability impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3220

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient verification of ESP packet authenticity, enabling a man-in-the-middle attack to disrupt IPsec VPN sessions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco IOS XE Software 16.4.1
Vendor: Cisco
Version: n/a

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tampering with ESP cleartext values, causing a disruption in IPsec VPN sessions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-3220 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Implement strong encryption and authentication mechanisms.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing regularly.
Educate users on security best practices and awareness.
Implement network segmentation and access controls.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the affected systems are updated with the latest patches and security updates to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.