CVE-2022-20691 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2022-20691, a Cisco Discovery Protocol vulnerability affecting Cisco ATA 190 Series Adaptive Telephone Adapter firmware. Find out the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
This article provides an overview of CVE-2022-20691, a vulnerability in the Cisco Discovery Protocol functionality of Cisco ATA 190 Series Adaptive Telephone Adapter firmware.
Understanding CVE-2022-20691
CVE-2022-20691 is a vulnerability in the Cisco Discovery Protocol functionality of Cisco ATA 190 Series Adaptive Telephone Adapter firmware that could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) condition on an affected device.
What is CVE-2022-20691?
The vulnerability is a result of missing length validation of certain Cisco Discovery Protocol packet header fields. An attacker can exploit this by sending crafted packets to the device, causing it to exhaust available memory and restart the service.
The Impact of CVE-2022-20691
The impact includes a potential DoS condition on affected devices, leading to disrupted services and potential system downtime.
Technical Details of CVE-2022-20691
The vulnerability affects various versions of the Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) Software, with multiple versions confirmed as 'affected.'
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises due to missing length validation of specific Cisco Discovery Protocol packet header fields, enabling attackers to craft malicious packets to cause DoS conditions.
Affected Systems and Versions
Numerous versions of the Cisco ATA Software, including 1.1.0, 1.2.1, 11.1.0, 2.1(5), 3.2(4), and others, are confirmed to be affected by CVE-2022-20691.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted Cisco Discovery Protocol packets to targeted devices, leading to memory exhaustion and service restart.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2022-20691 to ensure the security of affected systems.
Immediate Steps to Take
Organizations should apply the latest firmware updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing robust network security measures and regular vulnerability assessments can help in identifying and mitigating similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Patching and Updates
Regularly update and patch the affected systems with the latest firmware releases from Cisco to protect against potential exploitation of CVE-2022-20691.