Cisco: IOS Device Disruption Advisory - Critical Network Issue

Cisco Systems Inc. has found a serious vulnerability that can be used to essentially disable virtually any device running the company's Internetwork Operating System software, including its ubiquitous routers and switches. The vulnerability arises from IOS' failure to correctly handle . . . Cisco Systems Inc. has found a serious vulnerability that can be used to essentially disable virtually any device running the company's Internetwork Operating System software, including its ubiquitous routers and switches. The vulnerability arises from IOS' failure to correctly handle a specific series of IPv4 packets sent to the device. When the sequence of packets hits the device, the IOS mistakenly flags the input queue on the network interface as being full. After a period of time, the device will stop processing traffic.

The device can be forced to stop routing any traffic on any interface and will require a complete restart to resume normal operation.

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