COMMAND
Cisco
SYSTEMS AFFECTED
Catalyst 6000, 5000, 4000 images with SSH support. Version 6.1(1)
6.1(1a), 6.1(1b) with 3 Data Encryption Standard (DES) features only
PROBLEM
Following is based on a Cisco Security Notice. Non-Secure Shell
(SSH) connection attempts to an enabled SSH service on a Cisco
Catalyst 6000, 5000, or 4000 switch might cause a "protocol
mismatch" error, resulting in a supervisor engine failure. The
supervisor engine failure causes the switch to fail to pass
traffic and reboots the switch.
Only the following images are affected:
cat4000-k9.6-1-1.bin
cat5000-sup3cvk9.6-1-1a.bin
cat5000-sup3k9.6-1-1.bin
cat5000-supgk9.6-1-1.bin
cat6000-sup2cvk9.6-1-1b.bin
cat6000-sup2k9.6-1-1b.bin
cat6000-supcvk9.6-1-1b.bin
cat6000-supk9.6-1-1b.bin
Cisco IOS 12.1 SSH implementation is not affected by this
vulnerability. No other Cisco devices are affected.
Non SSH protocol connection attempts to the SSH service cause a
"protocol mismatch" error, which causes a switch to reload. SSH
is not enabled by default, and must be configured by the
administrator.
To verify if your image is affected, run the command "show
version". If the image filename is listed above, and you have
enabled SSH, you are affected by this vulnerability and should
upgrade to a fixed version immediately. This vulnerability
enables a Denial of Service attack on the Catalyst switch.
SOLUTION
This problem is resolved in release 6.1(1c). Due to a very
limited number of customer downloads, Cisco has chosen to notify
affected customers directly. This vulnerability has been
assigned Cisco bug ID CSCds85763. The full text of this advisory
can be viewed at:
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/catalyst-ssh-protocolmismatch-pub.shtml.
The workaround for this vulnerability is to disable SSH service.
For most customers using this image, SSH support is necessary, so
the recommended action is to upgrade to a fixed version.