CVE-2019-15264 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2019-15264, a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Aironet and Catalyst 9100 Access Points allowing unauthenticated attackers to trigger a denial of service (DoS) situation.
A vulnerability in the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol implementation in Cisco Aironet and Catalyst 9100 Access Points could allow an unauthenticated attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) by forcing the affected device to restart.
Understanding CVE-2019-15264
This CVE involves a flaw in the CAPWAP protocol implementation in Cisco Aironet and Catalyst 9100 Access Points, potentially leading to a DoS situation.
What is CVE-2019-15264?
The vulnerability arises from improper resource management during CAPWAP message processing, enabling an adjacent attacker to send a high volume of legitimate wireless management frames to the device, triggering an unexpected restart and causing a DoS scenario.
The Impact of CVE-2019-15264
- Severity: High (CVSS Base Score: 7.4)
- Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
- Availability Impact: High
- No authentication required for exploitation
Technical Details of CVE-2019-15264
This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to send a large number of wireless management frames to the device, leading to an unexpected restart and potential DoS for connected clients.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Cisco Aironet Access Point Software
- Vendor: Cisco
- Affected Versions: Unspecified
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attacker sends a high volume of legitimate wireless management frames to the device
- Device restarts unexpectedly, causing a DoS situation
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-15264 is crucial to prevent potential disruptions.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch all network devices
- Conduct security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities
- Educate users and IT staff on best security practices
Patching and Updates
- Cisco has likely released patches to address this vulnerability
- Regularly check for updates and apply them to ensure system security