COMMAND
Concentrator IP Options
SYSTEMS AFFECTED
Cisco VPN3000
PROBLEM
Following is based on a Cisco Security Advisory. If a crafted IP
packet, with an invalid IP Option setting is transmitted to a VPN
3000 series concentrator on the same network segment (no routers
in between), it can cause the VPN 3000 series concentrator to
hang with a 100% CPU Utilization. The concentrator would then
have to be reset. After rebooting, the equipment would function
normally until the crafted IP packet is received again. The
defect can be exploited to produce a denial of service (DoS)
attack.
The vulnerability is described in Cisco bug id CSCds92460. This
notice will be posted at
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/vpn3k-ipoptions-vuln-pub.shtml
Cisco VPN 3000 series concentrators running software releases up
to but not including revision 2.5.2 (F) are affected by this
vulnerability. This series includes models 3005, 3015, 3030,
3060, and 3080. Any VPN 3000 series concentrators running
revision 2.5.2 (F) or later are unaffected by this vulnerability.
If a crafted IP packet, with an invalid IP Option setting, is
transmitted to a VPN 3000 series concentrator on the same network
segment (no routers in between), on either the Inside or the
Outside interface, it can cause the VPN 3000 series concentrator
to hang with a 100 % CPU Utilization. The concentrator would then
have to be reset via the console port as no SNMP or HTTP remote
management control would be possible. After rebooting, the
equipment would function normally until the crafted IP packet is
received again.
In order to exploit this vulnerability the attacker must be on
the same network segment as the concentrator without any routers
in between. A crafted IP packet traversing a router would
typically get its invalid IP Options dropped and would not be
able to affect the VPN 3000 series concentrator.
When this crafted IP packet is received by the VPN 3000 series
concentrator, the concentrator will stop passing traffic and will
not respond to any management inquiries via SNMP, Telnet or HTTP.
However management via the console port is possible.
For VPN 3000 series concentrator models 3015, 3030, 3060, and
3080 the CPU Utilization bar graph indicator on the front panel
will go to 100%.
SOLUTION
This vulnerability does not affect the VPN 5000 series
concentrators. No other Cisco product is known to be affected by
this vulnerability. To determine if a Cisco VPN 3000 series
concentrator is running affected software, check the revision via
the web interface or the console menu.
The vulnerability has been fixed in revision 2.5.2 (E) code. The
fix will be carried forward into all future releases. However due
to the another advisory the recommended revision to upgrade to is
2.5.2 (F). Upgrade can be done via the remote software upgrade
feature using the VPN 3000 series concentrator's web based
management interface.
There are no system configuration workarounds. Please upgrade to
revision 2.5.2 (F) code.