CVE-2020-3255 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2020-3255, a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software that could lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation details, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition by flooding the device with traffic.
Understanding CVE-2020-3255
This CVE involves a vulnerability in the packet processing functionality of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software that could lead to a DoS attack.
What is CVE-2020-3255?
The vulnerability in Cisco FTD Software allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to trigger a DoS condition by exploiting inefficient memory management. By sending a high rate of IPv4 or IPv6 traffic matching a configured block action, an attacker can exhaust the device's memory, causing a DoS for traffic and impacting management interface performance.
The Impact of CVE-2020-3255
- CVSS Base Score: 7.5 (High Severity)
- Attack Vector: Network
- Availability Impact: High
- The vulnerability could result in a DoS condition and sluggish device performance.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-3255
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
- The vulnerability stems from inefficient memory management in Cisco FTD Software.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Product: Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software
- Affected Version: Not Applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers exploit the vulnerability by flooding the device with IPv4 or IPv6 traffic matching a block action in an access control policy.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-3255 is crucial to prevent potential DoS attacks.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly.
- Monitor network traffic for any unusual patterns that could indicate an ongoing attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
- Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Cisco has likely released patches or updates to address the vulnerability. Ensure timely installation to secure systems.