CVE-2017-6615 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) subsystem of Cisco IOS XE 3.16 could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is due to a race condition that could occur when the affected software processes an SNMP read request that contains certain criteria for a specific object ID (OID) and an active crypto session is disconnected on an affected device. An attacker who can authenticate to an affected device could trigger this vulnerability by issuing an SNMP request for a specific OID on the device. A successful exploit will cause the device to restart due to an attempt to access an invalid memory region. The attacker does not control how or when crypto sessions are disconnected on the device. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvb94392.

Understanding CVE-2017-6615

This section provides an overview of the vulnerability and its impact.

What is CVE-2017-6615?

CVE-2017-6615 is a vulnerability in the SNMP subsystem of Cisco IOS XE 3.16 that could lead to a denial of service (DoS) situation when exploited by an authenticated remote attacker.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6615

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to disrupt the normal operation of an affected device by causing it to restart, resulting in a DoS condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6615

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from a race condition in the SNMP subsystem of Cisco IOS XE 3.16, triggered when processing specific SNMP read requests during the disconnection of an active crypto session on the device.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco IOS XE Software
Version: Cisco IOS XE Software

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated attacker issues an SNMP request for a specific OID on the affected device.
The device attempts to access an invalid memory region, leading to a restart.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches and updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious SNMP requests.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch network devices to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to devices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Cisco and promptly apply recommended patches to secure network devices.