CVE-2024-34487 identifies a denial of service vulnerability in Faucet SDN Ryu version 4.34, specifically within the OFPFlowStats component of the parser.py module. The vulnerability arises when the parser processes OpenFlow flow statistics messages containing instructions with a length field set to zero (inst.length=0). This malformed input causes the parser to enter an infinite loop, effectively exhausting CPU resources and causing the SDN controller to become unresponsive. The root cause is a lack of proper validation and boundary checks on the instruction length field, classified under CWE-835 (Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition). The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without any privileges or user interaction, as it involves sending crafted OpenFlow messages to the controller. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5 (high), reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a significant impact on availability, while confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild, but the risk remains due to the critical role of SDN controllers in network infrastructure.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-34487 is a denial of service condition that can render Faucet SDN Ryu controllers unresponsive by causing an infinite loop in the flow statistics parser. This can disrupt network management and control functions, potentially leading to network outages or degraded performance in environments relying on SDN for traffic routing and policy enforcement. Enterprises, data centers, and telecom providers using Faucet SDN Ryu 4.34 are at risk of service disruption, which can affect business continuity and operational stability. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, data breaches are unlikely, but the availability impact alone can cause significant operational and financial damage. The ease of exploitation and remote attack vector increase the threat level, especially in exposed or poorly segmented network environments.

To mitigate CVE-2024-34487, organizations should first verify if they are running Faucet SDN Ryu version 4.34 or earlier versions that include the vulnerable parser.py module. Immediate mitigation steps include restricting network access to the SDN controller to trusted management networks only, implementing strict firewall rules to block unauthorized OpenFlow messages, and monitoring network traffic for anomalous or malformed OpenFlow packets. Network segmentation can limit exposure to potential attackers. Administrators should also engage with the Faucet SDN community or vendor for patches or updates addressing this issue and apply them promptly once available. In the absence of official patches, consider deploying runtime protections such as input validation proxies or rate limiting to prevent malformed packets from reaching the controller. Regularly audit and update SDN controller software to the latest secure versions to reduce exposure to similar vulnerabilities.