CVE-2021-1521 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the Cisco Discovery Protocol implementation for Cisco Video Surveillance 8000 Series IP Cameras could allow an unauthenticated attacker to cause an affected IP camera to reload unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Understanding CVE-2021-1521

This CVE identifies a vulnerability within Cisco Video Surveillance 8000 Series IP Cameras related to the Cisco Discovery Protocol implementation.

What is CVE-2021-1521?

CVE-2021-1521 is a flaw in the handling of Cisco Discovery Protocol messages, allowing an unauthenticated attacker in the same broadcast domain to trigger camera reloads.

The Impact of CVE-2021-1521

The vulnerability could lead to a DoS attack, impacting the availability of the IP camera system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-1521

The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5, with an attack complexity of LOW and an availability impact of HIGH.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw results from missing checks when processing Cisco Discovery Protocol messages.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Cisco Video Surveillance 8000 Series IP Cameras.

Exploitation Mechanism

An adjacent attacker can exploit the flaw by sending a malicious Cisco Discovery Protocol packet to the affected IP camera.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risk and ensure long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement network segmentation and restrict broadcast domains to limit exposure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security training for staff on identifying and reporting suspicious network activity.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.