CVE-2002-0628 in Viewstation
Summary
by MITRE
The Telnet service for Polycom ViewStation before 7.2.4 does not restrict the number of failed login attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to guess usernames and passwords via a brute force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0628 represents a critical authentication weakness in the Telnet service implementation of Polycom ViewStation video conferencing devices. This flaw exists in versions prior to 7.2.4 and fundamentally undermines the security posture of these networked communication systems by failing to implement account lockout mechanisms or failed attempt rate limiting. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication process, creating an environment where malicious actors can systematically exploit the lack of protective controls through automated brute force attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the absence of session management controls within the Telnet service implementation. When users attempt to authenticate to the Polycom ViewStation device, the system does not track or limit the number of consecutive failed login attempts. This absence of rate limiting and account lockout functionality creates a direct pathway for automated attack tools to rapidly cycle through potential username and password combinations without encountering any barriers or delays. The Telnet protocol itself, being inherently unencrypted and vulnerable to network sniffing, compounds the risk when combined with this authentication flaw.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant security risks including unauthorized access to video conferencing systems, potential network infiltration, and compromise of sensitive communication channels. The ease with which attackers can perform brute force attacks against these devices means that even moderately complex passwords can be cracked within reasonable timeframes, particularly when attackers employ dictionary or rainbow table attacks. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-307, which describes inadequate account lockout mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for Brute Force Attacks.
Organizations utilizing affected Polycom ViewStation devices face substantial risk of unauthorized system access, which could lead to complete network compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical communication services. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because video conferencing systems often serve as entry points to broader corporate networks, and the Telnet service typically provides administrative access to device configuration and system functions. Effective mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware upgrades to version 7.2.4 or later, implementation of network segmentation to isolate these devices, deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication attempts, and consideration of alternative encrypted authentication methods such as SSH instead of Telnet. Additionally, organizations should implement network access controls and monitor for unauthorized Telnet connections to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.