CVE-2007-1063 in Unified Ip Phone 7911g
Summary
by MITRE
The SSH server in Cisco Unified IP Phone 7906G, 7911G, 7941G, 7961G, 7970G, and 7971G, with firmware 8.0(4)SR1 and earlier, uses a hard-coded username and password, which allows remote attackers to access the device.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1063 represents a critical authentication flaw in Cisco Unified IP Phone devices that has significant implications for network security. This weakness affects multiple models including the 7906G, 7911G, 7941G, 7961G, 7970G, and 7971G phone series, specifically when running firmware versions 8.0(4)SR1 or earlier. The flaw stems from the implementation of a hard-coded credential mechanism that violates fundamental security principles and creates an inherent backdoor access vector for malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the use of a predetermined username and password combination that is embedded within the device firmware itself. This hard-coded authentication mechanism eliminates the possibility of proper credential management and authentication controls, effectively providing unauthorized users with immediate administrative access to the affected telephony devices. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically within the SSH server implementation, making it particularly dangerous as it allows remote exploitation without requiring any prior knowledge of legitimate user credentials.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on Cisco IP phone infrastructure, as it enables remote attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected devices. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised phones can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration, allowing attackers to potentially pivot to other network segments, intercept communications, or manipulate telephony services. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts, as it provides attackers with legitimate administrative credentials without requiring additional reconnaissance or credential theft activities.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished remotely, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise telephony systems. Organizations with affected devices face potential risks including unauthorized surveillance, disruption of voice services, and possible data exfiltration through the compromised communication channels. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple phone models and firmware versions indicates a systemic design flaw that affects a substantial portion of Cisco's IP phone deployment in enterprise environments. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader network security assessment, particularly when evaluating the security posture of unified communications infrastructures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1063 primarily focus on immediate firmware updates to versions that address the hard-coded credential issue. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate telephony infrastructure from critical business systems, deploy network access controls to restrict SSH access to authorized administrative workstations only, and conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential management and the dangers of embedded authentication mechanisms that cannot be easily updated or changed, reinforcing industry best practices for secure software development and the implementation of robust authentication frameworks as outlined in various cybersecurity standards and frameworks.