CVE-2005-2242 in CallManager
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco CallManager (CCM) 3.2 and earlier, 3.3 before 3.3(5), 4.0 before 4.0(2a)SR2b, and 4.1 4.1 before 4.1(3)SR1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and restart) via crafted packets to (1) the CTI Manager (ctimgr.exe) or (2) the CallManager (ccm.exe).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
Cisco CallManager versions 3.2 and earlier, 3.3 before 3.3(5), 4.0 before 4.0(2a)SR2b, and 4.1 before 4.1(3) contain a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully constructed network packets. This vulnerability specifically targets two core components of the system: the CTI Manager process (ctimgr.exe) and the CallManager process (ccm.exe). The flaw manifests when these processes receive malformed or specially crafted packets that trigger abnormal memory consumption patterns, ultimately leading to system restarts and complete service disruption. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow or input validation issue where the system fails to properly sanitize incoming network traffic before processing it within the call management framework. This weakness allows attackers to consume excessive system resources through seemingly benign network packets, effectively exhausting memory allocation and forcing the application to restart. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where CallManager systems are exposed to external traffic.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length of input data, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. These weaknesses create an environment where crafted packets can cause memory corruption and system instability within the CallManager application. From an operational perspective, the vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risk as it allows attackers to disrupt voice communication services critical to business operations. The CTI Manager component handles communication between external applications and the CallManager system, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disable call processing capabilities. Similarly, the CallManager process itself manages core telephony functions including call setup, routing, and termination, meaning that exploitation of either component can result in complete service disruption. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal skill and provides maximum impact, making it a prime target for automated attack tools and opportunistic threat actors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face substantial operational risks including loss of communication capabilities, potential financial losses due to service interruption, and increased security exposure. The remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from anywhere on the network, potentially bypassing traditional perimeter security controls. Network segmentation and access control measures may not prevent exploitation if the vulnerable components are accessible from untrusted networks. The memory consumption aspect of the attack can be particularly challenging to detect as it may appear as normal system behavior until service degradation occurs. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual memory usage patterns and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping telephony systems updated with the latest security patches and service releases, as Cisco has addressed this issue in subsequent versions of CallManager.
Recommended mitigations include immediate deployment of available security patches from Cisco, which address the input validation flaws in both the CTI Manager and CallManager components. Network administrators should implement strict access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks, utilizing firewall rules and network segmentation to protect critical telephony infrastructure. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable software versions. The implementation of intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection capabilities can help identify exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect abnormal memory consumption patterns and system restarts that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a broader security perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining comprehensive security patch management programs for all network infrastructure components, particularly those handling real-time communication services that are critical to business operations. The vulnerability also reinforces the need for proper input validation and secure coding practices in telecommunications software development to prevent similar issues from occurring in future releases.