CVE-2020-3497 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2020-3497, a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers, allowing DoS attacks. Find mitigation steps and patching advice.
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, resulting in a DoS condition.
Understanding CVE-2020-3497
This CVE involves multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers that could lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack.
What is CVE-2020-3497?
The CVE-2020-3497 vulnerability allows an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to exploit insufficient validation of CAPWAP packets, causing affected devices to crash and reload, resulting in a DoS condition.
The Impact of CVE-2020-3497
- Severity: High (CVSS Base Score: 7.4)
- Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
- Availability Impact: High
- No Confidentiality or Integrity Impact
- No Privileges Required
- Scope: Changed
- User Interaction: None
Technical Details of CVE-2020-3497
This section provides detailed technical information about the 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
- Affected Product: Cisco IOS XE Software
- Vendor: Cisco
- Affected Version: n/a
Exploitation Mechanism
- An attacker can exploit the vulnerability by sending a malformed CAPWAP packet to an affected device.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protect your systems from CVE-2020-3497 with the following steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor patches and 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 all software and firmware.
- Conduct security training for employees to recognize and report suspicious activities.
- Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms.
Patching and Updates
- Refer to the vendor's security advisory for patching instructions and updates.