CVE-2017-12231 Technical Vulnerability Analysis & Patch Advisory (CVSS 7.5)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTSystems running unpatched versions impacted by CVE-2017-12231
A vulnerability in the implementation of Network Address Translation (NAT) functionality in Cisco IOS 12.4 through 15.6 could allow an unaut...
Apply vendor security patches and restrict external network exposure.
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUNDRemediation Steps
- Upgrade to the latest patched release from the vendor.
- Apply virtual patching or network segmentation until maintenance windows allow full patching.
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Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
Technical Overview
A vulnerability in the implementation of Network Address Translation (NAT) functionality in Cisco IOS 12.4 through 15.6 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to the improper translation of H.323 messages that use the Registration, Admission, and Status (RAS) protocol and are sent to an affected device via IPv4 packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted H.323 RAS packet through an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to crash and reload, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects Cisco devices that are configured to use an application layer gateway with NAT (NAT ALG) for H.323 RAS messages. By default, a NAT ALG is enabled for H.323 RAS messages. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc57217.
- CVSS Score: 7.5 (HIGH)
- CWE IDs: CWE-399
Official Vendor Advisories & References
A vulnerability in the implementation of Network Address Translation (NAT) functionality in Cisco IOS 12.4 through 15.6 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to the improper translation of H.323 messages that use the Registration, Admission, and Status (RAS) protocol and are sent to an affected device via IPv4 packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted H.323 RAS packet through an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to crash and reload, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects Cisco devices that are configured to use an application layer gateway with NAT (NAT ALG) for H.323 RAS messages. By default, a NAT ALG is enabled for H.323 RAS messages. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc57217.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2017-12231)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2017-12231 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2017-12231 is rated CVSS 7.5 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 7.1%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2017-12231?
Primary impacted vendors include security-advisory across enterprise-software. Scope summary: All unpatched versions listed in the official NVD CPE configurations
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2017-12231 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply vendor security patches and restrict external network exposure. Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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