CVE-2020-3493 : Security Advisory and Response

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-2020-3493

This CVE involves multiple vulnerabilities in the CAPWAP protocol processing of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers.

What is CVE-2020-3493?

CVE-2020-3493 is a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to trigger a denial of service condition on an affected device by exploiting weaknesses in CAPWAP packet validation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3493

The vulnerabilities in the CAPWAP protocol processing could lead to a successful exploit causing affected devices to crash and reload, resulting in a denial of service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3493

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities in the CAPWAP protocol processing of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers allow an adjacent attacker to send a malformed CAPWAP packet, leading to a denial of service condition on the affected device.

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
CVSS Base Score: 7.4 (High)
Impact: High availability impact, no confidentiality or integrity impact

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-3493 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 network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate weaknesses.
Educate users and administrators about security best practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Cisco.
Apply patches and updates as soon as they are available to mitigate the risk of exploitation.