CVE-2021-1460 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-1460, a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco routers and gateways that could allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition by exploiting insufficient error handling.
A vulnerability in the Cisco IOx Application Framework of certain Cisco routers and gateways could allow an unauthenticated attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition by exploiting insufficient error handling during packet processing.
Understanding CVE-2021-1460
This CVE refers to a denial of service vulnerability affecting Cisco routers and gateways due to insufficient error handling in the IOx Application Framework.
What is CVE-2021-1460?
The vulnerability allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to disrupt the affected device's IOx web server by sending crafted TCP traffic, resulting in a DoS condition.
The Impact of CVE-2021-1460
Exploiting this vulnerability could lead the IOx web server to halt processing requests, causing service disruptions on the affected devices.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-1460
The vulnerability is rated with a CVSS base score of 5.3, categorizing it as a medium severity issue with low attack complexity and network accessibility.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw arises from inadequate error handling in packet processing within the Cisco IOx Application Framework, enabling attackers to trigger a DoS condition.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects Cisco 809 Industrial Integrated Services Routers, Cisco 829 Industrial ISRs, Cisco CGR 1000 Compute Module, and Cisco IC3000 Industrial Compute Gateway across all versions.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending a sustained rate of crafted TCP traffic to the IOx web server on the impacted device.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2021-1460, immediate action and long-term security practices are essential to secure the affected devices.
Immediate Steps to Take
Implement network controls, monitor traffic patterns, and apply filtering rules to mitigate potential attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly update and patch affected devices, conduct security audits, and enhance network security posture to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Refer to the Cisco advisory for specific patching instructions and updates to remediate the vulnerability.