Cisco Security Advisory
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AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C/E:F/RL:OF/RC:C
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The Cisco Content Switching Modules (CSM) and Cisco Content Switching Module with SSL (CSM-S) contain two vulnerabilities that can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition. The first vulnerability exists when processing TCP packets, and the second vulnerability affects devices with service termination enabled.
Cisco has made free software available to address these vulnerabilities for affected customers.
This advisory is posted at https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20070905-csm.
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Vulnerable Products
These vulnerabilities were identified in CSM software version 4.2 and CSM-S software version 2.1. The following table helps illustrate the vulnerable software versions for these products:
Vulnerability
CSM
CSM-S
TCP packet Processing DOS
4.2 Prior to 4.2.3a
2.1 Prior to 2.1.2a
Service Termination
4.2 Prior to 4.2.7
2.1 Prior to 2.1.6
To determine the software running on a Content Switching Module, log in to the Catalyst switch and issue the show version command.
The following example shows a CSM running software version 4.2(2) in a Supervisor running CatOS. Supervisors running CatOS or IOS will have similar output. The version of the CSM is shown on the module labeled WS-X6066-SLB-APC as illustrated in the following output.
Console>show version WS-C6506 Software, Version NmpSW: 7.6(9) Copyright (c) 1995-2004 by Cisco Systems NMP S/W compiled on Aug 27 2004, 20:05:14 System Bootstrap Version: 7.1(1) System Boot Image File is 'disk0:cat6000-sup2k8.7-6-9.bin' System Configuration register is 0x2102 Hardware Version: 3.0 Model: WS-C6506 Serial #: TBA05360375 PS1 Module: WS-CAC-1300W Serial #: ACP05061071 PS2 Module: WS-CAC-1300W Serial #: ACP05060407 Mod Port Model Serial # Versions --- ---- ------------------- ----------- -------------------------------------- 1 2 WS-X6K-SUP2-2GE SAD055104YY Hw : 3.2 Fw : 7.1(1) Fw1: 6.1(3) Sw : 7.6(9) Sw1: 7.6(9) WS-F6K-PFC2 SAD055104H5 Hw : 3.0 Sw : WS-X6K-SUP2-2GE SAD055104YY Hw : 3.2 Sw : 2 48 WS-X6248-RJ-45 SAD0501084U Hw : 1.4 Fw : 5.4(2) Sw : 7.6(9) 5 4 WS-X6066-SLB-APC SAD105003DW Hw : 1.9 Fw : Sw : 4.2(2) DRAM FLASH NVRAM Module Total Used Free Total Used Free Total Used Free ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ----- ----- 1 262144K 70354K 191790K 32768K 23251K 9517K 512K 253K 259K Uptime is 43 days, 22 hours, 7 minutesThe following configuration segment shows a vserver with service terminations enabled:
vserver WWW:2 virtual x.x.x.x tcp www service termination
Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable
Only Catalyst CSM modules running indicated 4.2 versions are affected by these vulnerabilities. CSM software versions 4.1, 3.2 and 3.1 are not affected by these vulnerabilities.
Catalyst CSM-S modules running indicated 2.1 versions are the only vulnerable versions of software for that product.
No other Cisco products are currently known to be affected by this vulnerability. The Cisco Secure Content Accelerator is not affected by this vulnerability.
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The Catalyst CSM is an integrated Server Load Balancing line card for the Catalyst 6500 and 7600 Series designed to enhance the response time for client traffic to end points including servers, caches, firewalls, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) devices, and VPN termination devices.
The Catalyst 6500 CSM-S combines high-performance server load balancing (SLB) with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) offload. The CSM-S is similar to the CSM; however, it can also terminate and initiate SSL-encrypted traffic, which allows the CSM-S to perform intelligent load balancing while ensuring secure end-to-end encryption.
When a module running affected code receives specific TCP packets out of order, a DoS condition may be triggered resulting in the CPU reaching 100% utilization or a reload with a FPGA4 exception with icp.fatPath length error.
This vulnerability is documented in Cisco bug ID CSCsd27478 ( registered customers only) .
When service termination is enabled on a module running affected software and the module is under high network utilization, a DoS condition may be triggered, resulting in a reload with a FPGA4 exception 1 IDLE error.
This vulnerability is documented in Cisco bug ID CSCsh57876 ( registered customers only) .
In normal operations, the MSFC CLI handles the management of the CSM and CSM-S; however, in order to upgrade the software, a user must first log into the switch and session to the module.
For more information on how to upgrade your CSM, visit the http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/modules/ps2706/products_tech_note09186a0080094526.shtml page on Cisco.com.
Information on how to upgrade the CSM-S can be found at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/interfaces_modules/services_modules/csms/2.1.1/configuration/guide/getstart.html#wp1041858.
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There are no workarounds for these vulnerabilities. Removing service termination will mitigate Cisco bug ID CSCsh57876; however, disabling this feature disables services that may be critical to the operation of the device.
Additional mitigations that can be deployed on Cisco devices within the network are available in the Cisco Applied Mitigation Bulletin companion document for this advisory:
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When considering software upgrades, also consult http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt and any subsequent advisories to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution.
In all cases, customers should exercise caution to be certain the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center ("TAC") or your contracted maintenance provider for assistance.
For more information on the terms "Rebuild" and "Maintenance," consult the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/620/1.html.
Registered customers can obtained fixed software for the CSM from: http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/cat6000-csm?psrtdcat20e2 ( registered customers only)
Registered customers can obtained fixed software for the CSM-S from: http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/cat6000-csms?psrtdcat20e2 ( registered customers only)
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The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability described in this advisory.
These vulnerabilities were discovered during the investigation of customer support cases.
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To learn about Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy. This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.
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Revision 1.1
2008-April-25
Updated links to the CVSS scores for CSCsh57876 and CSCsd27478.
Revision 1.0
2007-Sept-05
Initial public release
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