CVE-2021-1353 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2021-1353 impacting Cisco ASR 5000 Series Software. Understand the vulnerability, its impact, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability in the IPv4 protocol handling of Cisco StarOS could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The vulnerability stems from a memory leak during packet processing, leading to unexpected restarts and device downtime.
Understanding CVE-2021-1353
This section provides an overview of the Cisco StarOS IPv4 Denial of Service Vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-1353?
The CVE-2021-1353 vulnerability affects Cisco ASR 5000 Series Software, allowing remote attackers to trigger a DoS condition by exploiting a memory leak in the IPv4 protocol.
The Impact of CVE-2021-1353
The impact of this vulnerability is categorized as medium severity, with a CVSS base score of 5.8. Attackers can exhaust device memory, leading to a denial of service situation and the restart of the npusim process.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-1353
In this section, we dive into the specifics of the CVE-2021-1353 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of IPv4 packets by Cisco StarOS, resulting in a memory leak that attackers can exploit to disrupt device operation.
Affected Systems and Versions
The Cisco ASR 5000 Series Software is impacted by this vulnerability across all versions.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can trigger the vulnerability by sending a sequence of crafted IPv4 packets through the affected device, leading to memory depletion and the initiation of the npusim process restart.
Mitigation and Prevention
Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2021-1353 is crucial for maintaining network security.
Immediate Steps to Take
Network administrators are advised to apply the latest security updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability and prevent exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing network segmentation, access control policies, and regular security monitoring can help enhance overall network security and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for security advisories from Cisco and promptly apply recommended patches to ensure the security of Cisco ASR 5000 Series Software.