CVE-2018-0273 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in the IPsec Manager of Cisco StarOS for Cisco Aggregation Services Router (ASR) 5000 Series Routers and Virtualized Packet Core (VPC) System Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to terminate all active IPsec VPN tunnels and prevent new tunnels from being established, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The flaw arises from the mishandling of corrupted Internet Key Exchange Version 2 (IKEv2) messages.

Understanding CVE-2018-0273

This CVE entry describes a critical vulnerability in Cisco StarOS IPsec Manager that can lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack.

What is CVE-2018-0273?

The vulnerability in the IPsec Manager of Cisco StarOS allows an unauthorized attacker to disrupt active IPsec VPN connections and hinder the establishment of new connections, causing a DoS situation. By sending specially crafted IKEv2 messages, the attacker can force the ipsecmgr service to reload, terminating all IPsec VPN tunnels.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0273

Unauthorized attackers can disrupt all active IPsec VPN connections and hinder the establishment of new connections, leading to a denial of service (DoS) scenario.
The vulnerability stems from the incorrect handling of corrupted IKEv2 messages, allowing attackers to force the ipsecmgr service to reload, terminating all IPsec VPN tunnels.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0273

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to disrupt IPsec VPN connections by sending specially crafted IKEv2 messages, leading to a DoS situation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco StarOS IPsec Manager
Cisco Aggregation Services Router (ASR) 5000 Series Routers
Virtualized Packet Core (VPC) System Software

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by sending crafted IKEv2 messages to vulnerable routers, forcing the ipsecmgr service to reload and terminating all IPsec VPN tunnels.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches and updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Cisco has released patches to address the vulnerability. Ensure timely application of these patches to secure the affected systems.