CVE-2018-0466 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software OSPFv3 Denial of Service Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2018-0466

Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software contain a flaw in their implementation of OSPFv3, allowing an adjacent attacker to cause a denial of service by sending manipulated OSPFv3 packets.

What is CVE-2018-0466?

This CVE refers to a vulnerability in Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software that could be exploited by an adjacent attacker without authentication, leading to a denial of service situation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0466

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.4, indicating a significant impact. An attacker could force the affected device to reload, causing a denial of service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0466

Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software OSPFv3 Denial of Service Vulnerability

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the OSPFv3 implementation allows attackers to send manipulated OSPFv3 Link-State Advertisements to exploit the vulnerability and force device reloads.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco IOS Software
Vendor: Cisco
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by sending crafted OSPFv3 LSA packets to the targeted device.

Mitigation and Prevention

Cisco has provided guidance on mitigating the CVE-2018-0466 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary security updates from Cisco.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity related to OSPFv3.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software to prevent vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Refer to Cisco's security advisory for specific patch details and instructions.