CVE-2010-3035 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Cisco IOS XR versions 3.4.0 through 3.9.1 when the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is enabled. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (DoS) by exploiting the improper handling of unrecognized transitive attributes, specifically through a crafted prefix announcement. This issue was notably demonstrated in the wild in August 2010 with an attribute type code of 99.
The severity of this vulnerability is classified as high, with a CVSS score of 7.5. The attack vector is network-based, and it has a low attack complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction to exploit. The main impact of this vulnerability is on the availability of the affected systems, potentially leading to significant disruptions in network services.
Given the potential for exploitation, organizations using affected Cisco IOS XR versions should prioritize patching to mitigate this risk. The known exploitation of this vulnerability underscores its relevance in the current threat landscape, necessitating immediate attention from network security teams.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their patch management cycles to prevent exploitation and ensure the integrity of their network infrastructure.
Vulnerability Details
The official description states that Cisco IOS XR 3.4.0 through 3.9.1 does not properly handle unrecognized transitive attributes when BGP is enabled, allowing remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted prefix announcement. The vulnerability is cataloged under Bug ID CSCti62211.
This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level due to its potential impact on the availability of the affected systems. The attack vector is network-based, the attack complexity is low, and no privileges or user interaction are required for exploitation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the failure of Cisco IOS XR to correctly process unrecognized transitive attributes in BGP messages. When an attacker sends a specially crafted prefix announcement containing these attributes, it triggers a denial of service condition.
The attack vector is network-based, meaning that the attacker does not need physical access to the network to execute the attack. The attack complexity is classified as low, as no special skills or tools are required to exploit this vulnerability. Importantly, the exploit does not require any privileges or user interaction.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2010-3035 includes significant disruption to network services due to the denial-of-service condition it can induce. Organizations relying on Cisco IOS XR for critical networking functions could face operational challenges if this vulnerability is exploited.
The availability impact is rated as high, which means that a successful exploitation can lead to complete unavailability of the affected services. Given the age of this vulnerability, it is crucial for organizations to have robust patch management and vulnerability management programs in place to minimize exposure.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Cisco IOS XR are affected: 3.4.0 to 3.9.1. Organizations using these versions should ensure they apply the necessary updates to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply updates per vendor instructions to remediate this vulnerability. It is crucial to ensure that all systems running affected versions of Cisco IOS XR are patched immediately.
In addition to patching, organizations may consider implementing network controls to monitor and filter BGP announcements to further reduce the risk of exploitation.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for signs of anomalous BGP activity and unauthorized prefix announcements. Behavioral anomalies in network traffic patterns may also indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2010-3035 highlights the importance of maintaining updated configurations for network devices. This vulnerability represents a pattern of exploitable weaknesses in network protocols that can lead to significant availability impacts.
Security teams should take proactive measures to ensure their BGP configurations are robust and monitor for unusual activities. Regular security assessments, including penetration testing, can help identify and remediate potential weaknesses before they are exploited.
This incident serves as a critical reminder of the evolving landscape of network security and the need for continuous vigilance and adaptation by security teams.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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