CVE-2020-3486 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Multiple vulnerabilities in the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol processing of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition of an affected device. These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of CAPWAP packets. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending a malformed CAPWAP packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to crash and reload, resulting in a DoS condition on the affected device.

Understanding CVE-2020-3486

This CVE involves multiple vulnerabilities in the CAPWAP protocol processing of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers, potentially leading to a DoS attack.

What is CVE-2020-3486?

The CVE-2020-3486 vulnerability allows an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to trigger a DoS condition on an affected device by exploiting weaknesses in CAPWAP packet validation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3486

The vulnerability poses a high availability impact, with a CVSS base score of 7.4, indicating a significant threat level.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3486

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE-2020-3486 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of CAPWAP packets in Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco IOS XE Software
Vendor: Cisco
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Impact: High

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-3486 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly.
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure to adjacent network attacks.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of CAPWAP packet anomalies.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate weaknesses.
Educate network administrators and users on best security practices to prevent and respond to potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to address the vulnerabilities. Ensure timely application of these patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.