RE: Microsoft ISA Server Fragmented Udp Flood Vulnerability

From: Microsoft Security Response Center (secureat_private)
Date: Mon Nov 05 2001 - 10:48:14 PST

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    Hi all,
    
    Wanted to take a moment and clarify this issue that's been posted.
    
    We investigated the issue when it was initially brought to us at
    secureat_private, but this is strictly a flooding attack.  The
    script simply sends a huge number of fragmented packets to the
    server, and recombining the packets takes the server some finite
    amount of work.  Send enough of them,quickly enough, and you can
    monopolize the server.  But of course this is true for any server,
    not just for ISA.  The attack requires a very high bandwidth between
    the attack and the server, and normal processing resumes as soon as
    the flooding stops.
    
    ISA can be configured to drop fragmented packets and, if this is
    done, it significantly helps protect the system against flooding
    attacks like this.  However, even so, it's not a cure-all.  Even
    inspecting and dropping packets takes some finite amount of work, and
    once again if the attacker has sufficient bandwidth, he may be able
    to flood the server.  Again, though, there isn't a flaw in ISA server
    - - - -- it's strictly a flooding attack.
    
    Regards,
    secureat_private
    
    - - - -----Original Message-----
    Subject: Microsoft ISA Server Fragmented Udp Flood Vulnerability
    
    - - - - ----[ Summary
    A fragmented Udp attack through the microsoft isa server makes the
    system hampered by using the cpu at 100%. Meanwhile server uses
    processor power too much and therefore packet process ratio
    decreases.
    
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