CVE-2009-1048 in snom 370
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface on the snom VoIP phones snom 300, snom 320, snom 360, snom 370, and snom 820 with firmware 6.5 before 6.5.20, 7.1 before 7.1.39, and 7.3 before 7.3.14 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication, and reconfigure the phone or make arbitrary use of the phone, via a (1) http or (2) https request with 127.0.0.1 in the Host header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2017
The CVE-2009-1048 vulnerability affects snom VoIP phones including models 300, 320, 360, 370, and 820 running specific firmware versions. This represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device's web interface without proper credentials. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of the Host header in HTTP and HTTPS requests, specifically when the header contains the loopback address 127.0.0.1. This issue falls under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The flaw enables attackers to perform complete reconfiguration of the phone settings, make unauthorized calls, access sensitive communication data, and potentially use the device as an entry point for broader network attacks. The vulnerability exists in firmware versions 6.5 before 6.5.20, 7.1 before 7.1.39, and 7.3 before 7.3.14, representing a significant security gap in the device's web interface authentication system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the HTTP Host header field in web requests sent to the snom phone's web interface. When a remote attacker crafts a request with 127.0.0.1 as the Host header value, the device's authentication mechanism fails to properly validate the request source, allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions. This type of vulnerability is classified as a host header injection attack pattern, where the attacker manipulates the Host header to bypass access controls that rely on this field for validation. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient security checks in the web server implementation of these VoIP devices. Attackers can leverage this weakness to modify phone configurations, change user accounts, access call logs, and potentially redirect calls to malicious numbers, effectively compromising the entire communication infrastructure that relies on these devices.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-1048 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to create significant risks for enterprise communication networks. Organizations using affected snom phones face potential data breaches, unauthorized surveillance, and disruption of business communications. The vulnerability enables attackers to establish persistent access points within the network, as VoIP phones often serve as gateways to internal systems. This creates opportunities for lateral movement attacks where compromised phones can be used as pivot points to access other network resources. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no prior authentication credentials, making it easily exploitable by remote threat actors. Additionally, the vulnerability affects multiple generations of snom phones, amplifying the potential impact across various network environments and increasing the attack surface for organizations with legacy VoIP infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation is to update all affected snom phones to firmware versions 6.5.20, 7.1.39, and 7.3.14, which contain the necessary security patches. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate VoIP devices from critical business systems, and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the phone's web interface to trusted IP addresses only. Additionally, organizations should monitor network traffic for suspicious Host header patterns and implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Regular security audits of VoIP infrastructure should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and device access controls should be strengthened through the implementation of multi-factor authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in embedded web interfaces, particularly in networked devices where authentication bypasses can lead to complete system compromise.