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Subject: US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA04-316A -- Cisco IOS Input Queue Vulnerability
From: CERT Advisory <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 18:58:21 -0500

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                  Technical Cyber Security Alert TA04-316A 
                    Cisco IOS Input Queue Vulnerability

   Original release date: November 11, 2004
   Last revised: --
   Source: US-CERT

Systems Affected

     * Cisco routers, switches, and line cards running vulnerable
       versions of IOS

       The following versions of IOS are known to be affected:

         * 12.2(18)EW
         * 12.2(18)EWA
         * 12.2(18)S
         * 12.2(18)SE
         * 12.2(18)SV
         * 12.2(18)SW
         * 12.2(14)SZ

Overview

   There is a vulnerability in the way Cisco IOS processes DHCP packets.
   Exploitation of this vulnerability may lead to a denial of service.
   The processing of DHCP packets is enabled by default.

I. Description

   The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) provides a means for
   distributing configuration information to hosts on a TCP/IP
   network.The Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) contains a
   vulnerability that allows malformed DHCP packets to cause an affected
   device to stop processing incoming network traffic.

   Cisco routers, switches, and line cards provide support for processing
   DHCP packets. Cisco devices can act as a DHCP server, providing host
   configuration information to clients, or they can forward DHCP and
   BootP requests as a relay agent. The affected devices have the DHCP
   service enabled by default and will accept and process incoming DHCP
   packets. When a DHCP packet is received, it is placed into an input
   queue so it can be processed. Undeliverable DHCP packets may remain in
   the queue if malformed in a certain way. When the queue becomes full,
   the device will stop accepting all traffic on that interface, not just
   DHCP traffic.

   The DHCP service is enabled by default in IOS. DHCP can only be
   disabled when the no service dhcp command is specified in the running
   configuration. Cisco notes the following in their advisory:

       "Cisco routers are configured to process and accept DHCP
       packets by default, therefore the command service dhcp does not
       appear in the running configuration display, and only the
       command for the disabled feature, no service dhcp, will appear
       in the running configuration display when the feature is
       disabled. The vulnerability is present, regardless if the DHCP
       server or relay agent configurations are present on an affected
       product. The only required configuration for this vulnerability
       in affected versions is the lack of the no service dhcp
       command."

   Cisco is tracking this issue as CSCee50294. US-CERT is tracking this
   issue as VU#630104.

II. Impact

   By sending a specially crafted DHCP packet to an affected device, a
   remote, unauthenticated attacker could cause the device to stop
   processing incoming network traffic. Repeated exploitation of this
   vulnerability could lead to a sustained denial-of-service condition.
   In order to regain functionality, the device must be rebooted to clear
   the input queue on the interface.

III. Solution

Upgrade to fixed versions of IOS

   Cisco has published detailed information about upgrading affected
   Cisco IOS software to correct this vulnerability. System managers are
   encouraged to upgrade to one of the non-vulnerable releases. For
   additional information regarding availability of repaired releases,
   please refer to the "Software Versions and Fixes" section of the Cisco
   Security Advisory.

Workarounds

   Cisco recommends a number of workarounds. For a complete list of
   workarounds, see the Cisco Security Advisory.

Appendix A. References

     * Vulnerability Note VU#630104 -
       <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/630104>

     * Cisco Security Advisory: "Cisco IOS DHCP Blocked Interface
       Denial-of-Service" -
       <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20041110-dhcp.shtml
       >
   _________________________________________________________________

   US-CERT thanks Cisco Systems for notifying us about this problem.
   _________________________________________________________________

   Feedback can be directed to the authors: Jeff Havrilla, Damon Morda,
   and Jason Rafail 

   _________________________________________________________________

   This document is available from:
   
      <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-316A.html>
   
   _________________________________________________________________

   Copyright 2004 Carnegie Mellon University.
   
   Terms of use: <http://www.us-cert.gov/legal.html>
  _________________________________________________________________

   Revision History

   Nov 11, 2004: Initial release

                      Last updated November 11, 2004 


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