Horizon Alert
Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters
Cisco IOS software on specific Catalyst 6800 Series Switches contains a memory management flaw within its Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) code. An attacker with adjacent network access could exploit this by creating a large number of VPLS-generated MAC entries. This could cause a line card to crash, leading to a denial of service condition for network operations.
- Vulnerable Cisco IOS VPLS code
- Memory management flaw
- Denial of service to network operations
Attack Path
How an attacker could exploit the issue
This vulnerability affects Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches that are configured with Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). An adjacent attacker could exploit this by creating a large number of VPLS-generated MAC entries. This action could cause a line card to crash, leading to a denial of service for the affected systems.
- Requires adjacent network access.
- Attacker creates many VPLS MAC entries.
- Line card crashes, causing denial of service.
Live Threat
Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context
This vulnerability could impact network availability for organizations utilizing specific Cisco Catalyst switches. An attacker with adjacent network access could exploit a memory management flaw in the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) code. This could lead to a denial-of-service condition, causing a line card to crash and disrupt network services. The risk and urgency are considered medium due to the specific conditions required for exploitation.
- Likely attacker skill level: Moderate
- Required access or conditions: Adjacent network access, specific switch configuration
- Business risk or urgency: Medium
Priority actions
Operational Fix
Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps
This vulnerability impacts Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches configured with Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). An adjacent attacker could exploit a memory management issue to cause a line card to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This could disrupt network operations and impact affected business systems.
- Identify switches with VPLS configurations.
- Restrict adjacent network access.
- Apply vendor fixes and validate.
- Monitor for related incidents.
