CVE-2020-3231 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the 802.1X feature of Cisco Catalyst 2960-L Series Switches and Cisco Catalyst CDB-8P Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to forward broadcast traffic before being authenticated on the port.

Understanding CVE-2020-3231

This CVE involves a security flaw in Cisco IOS Software for Catalyst 2960-L Series Switches and Catalyst CDB-8P Switches related to 802.1X authentication.

What is CVE-2020-3231?

The vulnerability allows an attacker to send and receive broadcast traffic on an 802.1X-enabled port before authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3231

The vulnerability could be exploited by an adjacent attacker to manipulate broadcast traffic, compromising network security.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3231

This section provides in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from mishandling broadcast traffic on 802.1X-enabled ports.
Attackers can exploit this by sending broadcast traffic before authentication.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco IOS 15.2(5a)E
Versions: n/a

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Base Score: 4.7 (Medium)
Privileges Required: None
Scope: Changed

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-3231 with these strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-recommended patches promptly.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor network traffic for anomalies.
Conduct security awareness training to educate users on potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Cisco.
Keep systems up to date with the latest patches and firmware releases.