CVE-2002-0880 in 7910
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco IP Phone (VoIP) models 7910, 7940, and 7960 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via malformed packets as demonstrated by (1) "jolt", (2) "jolt2", (3) "raped", (4) "hping2", (5) "bloop", (6) "bubonic", (7) "mutant", (8) "trash", and (9) "trash2."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0880 affects Cisco IP Phone models 7910, 7940, and 7960, which are widely deployed VoIP communication devices in enterprise networks. These phones serve as critical endpoints for voice communication and are integral to business continuity operations. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that allows remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against these devices through carefully crafted malformed network packets. This particular flaw demonstrates the inherent risks associated with network protocol implementations in embedded systems where proper input validation and error handling mechanisms are insufficiently implemented.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending specifically crafted packets that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions within the phone's network processing stack. The attack vectors include various packet types such as "jolt", "jolt2", "raped", "hping2", "bloop", "bubonic", "mutant", "trash", and "trash2" which are designed to exploit different aspects of the phone's network protocol handling. These packet types represent different attack patterns that can cause the device to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the VoIP endpoint non-functional and disrupting communication services for users connected to that phone. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the phone's network protocol stack, creating a condition where malformed packets can cause the device to enter an undefined state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can severely affect business continuity and communication infrastructure. When these phones crash or become unresponsive, they can cause cascading effects throughout the VoIP network, potentially affecting multiple users and communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication, meaning attackers can target these devices from outside the network perimeter. This remote capability significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where physical security controls may be inadequate. Organizations relying on these phones for critical communications may face operational disruptions that can have financial and productivity implications.
Cisco has issued security advisories and patches to address this vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of timely remediation for affected devices. The mitigation strategies include applying the latest firmware updates from Cisco, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious packet patterns. Organizations should also consider network access controls to restrict unauthorized access to VoIP devices and implement monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how embedded systems can be vulnerable to network-based attacks. The attack patterns used in this vulnerability are consistent with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under network infiltration and denial of service tactics, highlighting the need for comprehensive network security controls that address both external and internal threats to VoIP infrastructure.