CVE-2020-3494 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Multiple vulnerabilities in the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol processing of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition of an affected device. These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of CAPWAP packets. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending a malformed CAPWAP packet to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to crash and reload, resulting in a DoS condition on the affected device.

Understanding CVE-2020-3494

This CVE involves multiple vulnerabilities in the CAPWAP protocol processing of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers.

What is CVE-2020-3494?

CVE-2020-3494 is a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to trigger a denial of service condition on an affected device by exploiting weaknesses in CAPWAP packet validation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-3494

The vulnerabilities could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition on affected devices, potentially causing them to crash and reload.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-3494

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities stem from insufficient validation of CAPWAP packets in Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco IOS XE Software
Vendor: Cisco
Versions: Not applicable (n/a)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Availability Impact: High
Base Score: 7.4 (High)
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-3494 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches and updates promptly.
Monitor vendor communications for any additional guidance.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate risks proactively.
Train employees on security best practices to prevent successful exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Cisco.
Apply patches and updates as soon as they are available to mitigate the risk of exploitation.