Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS PPTP Vulnerability

From: Cisco Systems Product Security Incident Response Team (psirtat_private)
Date: Thu Jul 12 2001 - 08:22:42 PDT

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                 Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS PPTP vulnerability
                                           
    Revision 1.0
    
      For Public Release 2001 July 12 08:00 (UTC -0800)
         _________________________________________________________________
       
    Summary
    
       Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) allows users to tunnel to an
       Internet Protocol (IP) network using a Point to Point Protocol (PPP). 
       The protocol is described in RFC2637.
       
       PPTP implementation using Cisco IOSŪ software releases contains a
       vulnerability that will crash a router if it receives a malformed or
       crafted PPTP packet. No special conditions or router configuration is
       required.
       
       This vulnerability is present in all Cisco IOS releases that support
       PPTP protocol. PPTP is supported in the following software releases:
    
         * 12.1 train, releases: T, E, EZ, YA, YD and YC
         * 12.2 train, all releases
           
       No other Cisco product is vulnerable.
       
       There is no workaround for this vulnerability.
       
       This advisory is available at
       http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/PPTP-vulnerability-pub.html
       
    Affected Products
    
       This vulnerability is present in all Cisco IOS releases that are
       supporintg PPTP protocol. PPTP is supported in the following releases
    
         * 11.x train does not supports PPTP
         * 12.1 train, releases: T, E, EZ, YA, YD and YC
         * 12.2 train, all releases
           
       To determine if a Cisco product is running an affected IOS, log in to
       the device and issue the command show version. Look for the
       "Internetwork Operating System Software" or "IOS (tm)" information,
       which also will have a version number. Other Cisco devices either will
       not have the command "show version" or will give different output.
       
    Details
    
       By sending a crafted PPTP packet to a port 1723, a control PPTP port,
       it is possible to crash the router. This vulnerability does not
       require special router configuration. Enabling PPTP is sufficient to
       expose the vulnerability. The router will crash after it receives a
       single packet.
       
       This vulnerability is documented as Cisco Bug ID CSCdt46181
       
    Impact
    
       By repeaditly exploiting this vulnerability it is possible to cause
       permanent Denial of Service (DoS). This denial is not only of the PPTP
       functionality but the whole router will stop functioning.
       
    Software Versions and Fixes
    
       Each row of the table describes a release train and the platforms or
       products for which it is intended. If a given release train is
       vulnerable, then the earliest possible releases that contain the fix
       and the anticipated date of availability for each are listed in the
       "Rebuild", "Interim", and "Maintenance" columns. A device running a
       release in the given train that is earlier the release in a specific
       column (less than the earliest fixed release) is known to be
       vulnerable. The release should be upgraded at least to the indicated
       release or a later version (greater than the earliest fixed release
       label).
       
       When selecting a release, keep in mind the following definitions:
       
            Maintenance
                    Most heavily tested and highly recommended release of any
                    label in a given row of the table.
                    
            Rebuild
                    Constructed from the previous maintenance or major
                    release in the same train, it contains the fix for a
                    specific defect. Although it receives less testing, it
                    contains only the minimal changes necessary to effect the
                    repair.
                    
            Interim
                    Built at regular intervals between maintenance releases
                    and receive less testing. Interims should be selected
                    only if there is no other suitable release that addresses
                    the vulnerability, and interim images should be upgraded
                    to the next available maintenance release as soon as
                    possible. Interim releases are not available via
                    manufacturing, and usually they are not available for
                    customer download from CCO without prior arrangement with
                    the Cisco TAC.
                    
       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 TAC for assistance as shown in the following section.
       
       More information on IOS release names and abbreviations is available
       at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/620/1.html.
       
     +--------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
     |        | Description of Image                                            |
     | Train  |      or Platform             Availability of Fixed Releases*    |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     |      12.1-based Releases           | Rebuild    |Interim** | Maintenance |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.1E  |Core/ISP support: GSR,     |            |          | 12.1(8a)E   |
     |        |RSP, c7200                 |            |          |             | 
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.1EZ |Early Deployment (ED):     |12.1(6)EZ2  |          |             |
     |        |special image              |            |          |             |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     |        |Early Deployment(ED): VPN, |Not Scheduled                        |
     |  12.1T |Distributed Director,      +-------------------------------------+
     |        |various platforms          |Upgrade recommended to 12.2(3)       |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     |        |                           |Not Scheduled                        |
     | 12.1YA |Short-lived early          +-------------------------------------+
     |        |deployment release         |Upgrade recommended to 12.2(2)XB     |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.1YC |Short-lived early          |12.1(5)YC1  |          |             |
     |        |deployment release         |            |          |             |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.1YD |Short-lived early          |12.1(5)YD2  |          |             |
     |        |deployment release         |2001-June-25|          |             |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     |       12.2-based Releases          | Rebuild    |Interim** | Maintenance |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     |  12.2  |General deployment release |            |12.2(1.1) |12.2(3)      |
     |        |for all platforms          |            |          |2001-August  |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     |  12.2T |General deployment release |            |          |12.2(4)T     |
     |        |for all platforms          |            |          |             |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.2XA |SPLOB                      |            |          |12.2(2)XA    |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.2XD |Short-lived early          |12.2(1)XD1  |          |             |
     |        |deployment release         |            |          |             |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.2XE |Short-lived early          |            |          |12.2(1)XE    |
     |        |deployment release         |            |          |             |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.2XH |Short-lived early          |            |          |12.2(1)XH    |
     |        |deployment release         |            |          |2001-June-25 |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     | 12.2XQ |Short-lived early          |            |          |12.2(1)XQ    |
     |        |deployment release         |            |          |2001-June-23 |
     +--------+---------------------------+------------+----------+-------------+
     |                                   Notes                                  |
     +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
     | * All dates are estimated and subject to change.                         |
     |                                                                          |
     | ** Interim releases are subjected to less rigorous testing than regular  |
     | maintenance releases, and may have serious bugs.                         |
     +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    Obtaining Fixed Software
    
       Cisco is offering free software upgrades to eliminate this
       vulnerability for all affected customers.
       
       Customers with contracts should obtain upgraded software through their
       regular update channels. For most customers, this means that upgrades
       should be obtained through the Software Center on Cisco's Worldwide
       Web site at http://www.cisco.com.
       
       Customers whose Cisco products are provided or maintained through
       prior or existing agreement with third-party support organizations
       such as Cisco Partners, authorized resellers, or service providers
       should contact that support organization for assistance with the
       upgrade, which should be free of charge.
       
       Customers who purchase direct from Cisco but who do not hold a Cisco
       service contract and customers who purchase through third party
       vendors but are unsuccessful at obtaining fixed software through their
       point of sale should get their upgrades by contacting the Cisco
       Technical Assistance Center (TAC). TAC contacts are as follows:
    
         * +1 800 553 2447 (toll-free from within North America)
         * +1 408 526 7209 (toll call from anywhere in the world)
         * e-mail: tacat_private
           
       Please have your product serial number available and give the URL
       of this notice as evidence of your entitlement to a free upgrade. Free
       upgrades for non-contract customers must be requested through the TAC.
       
       Please do not contact either "psirtat_private" or
       "security-alertat_private" for software upgrades.
       
    Workarounds
    
       There is no workaround for this vulnerability.
       
    Exploitation and Public Announcements
    
       This vulnerability has been reported to us by a customer.
       
       The Cisco PSIRT received a report about potential exploitation of this
       vulnerability for malicious purpose against one customer.
       
    Status of This Notice: INTERIM
    
       This is an interim security advisory. Cisco anticipates issuing
       updated versions of this notice at irregular intervals because there
       may be material changes in the facts. The reader is warned that this
       notice may contain inaccurate or incomplete information. Although
       Cisco cannot guarantee the accuracy of all statements in this notice,
       all of the facts have been checked to the best of our ability. Cisco
       anticipates issuing monthly updates of this notice until it reaches
       FINAL status.
       
       Note: A standalone copy or paraphrase of the text of this security
       advisory that omits the distribution URL in the following section is
       an uncontrolled copy and may lack important information or contain
       factual errors.
       
    Distribution
    
       This notice will be posted on Cisco's Worldwide Web site at
       http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/PPTP-vulnerability-pub.html.
       In addition to Worldwide Web posting, a text version of this notice is
       clear-signed with the Cisco PSIRT PGP key and is posted to the
       following e-mail and Usenet news recipients:
    
         * cust-security-announceat_private
         * bugtraqat_private
         * first-teamsat_private (includes CERT/CC)
         * ciscoat_private
         * comp.dcom.sys.cisco
         * firewallsat_private
         * Various internal Cisco mailing lists
           
       Future updates of this notice, if any, will be placed on Cisco's
       Worldwide Web server, but may or may not be actively announced on
       mailing lists or newsgroups. Users concerned about this problem are
       encouraged to check the URL given above for any updates.
       
    Revision History
    
       Revision 1.0 2001-Jul-12 08:00 UTC -0800 Initial public release
       
    Cisco Security Procedures
    
       Complete information on reporting security vulnerabilities in Cisco
       products, obtaining assistance with security incidents, and
       registering to receive security information from Cisco, is available
       on Cisco's Worldwide Web site at
       http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/sec_incident_response.shtml.
       This includes instructions for press inquiries regarding Cisco
       security notices.
       
       All Cisco Security Advisories are available at
       http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt
         _________________________________________________________________
       
       This notice is Copyright 2001 by Cisco Systems, Inc. This notice may
       be redistributed freely after the release date given at the top of the
       text, provided that redistributed copies are complete and unmodified,
       and include all date and version information.
         _________________________________________________________________
    
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