CVE-2010-1563 in PGW 2200 Softswitch
Summary
by MITRE
The SIP implementation on the Cisco PGW 2200 Softswitch with software 9.7(3)S before 9.7(3)S9 and 9.7(3)P before 9.7(3)P9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device crash) via a malformed header, aka Bug ID CSCsk04588.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1563 affects the Session Initiation Protocol implementation within Cisco PGW 2200 Softswitch devices operating with specific software versions. This represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers to crash the targeted system. The flaw specifically manifests when the device receives a malformed SIP header, causing the system to become unresponsive and ultimately leading to complete device failure. The affected software versions include 9.7(3)S before 9.7(3)S9 and 9.7(3)P before 9.7(3)P9, indicating this vulnerability impacts a specific release lineage of Cisco's softswitch platform.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SIP header processing mechanism of the Cisco PGW 2200. When the device encounters a malformed header structure, the parsing routine fails to properly handle the unexpected data format, resulting in an uncontrolled exception that leads to system crash. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, where the system does not adequately validate or sanitize incoming data before processing. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or parsing error scenario where malformed input causes the application to terminate unexpectedly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Cisco PGW 2200 Softswitch infrastructure, as it can result in complete service disruption and potential network outages. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the denial of service condition without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous. The device crash affects the entire SIP signaling infrastructure, potentially disrupting voice communications, video conferencing, and other real-time communication services that depend on the softswitch for call processing. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, compromising the system's ability to provide continuous service to legitimate users.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates that address the malformed header processing issue. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual SIP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, and organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious SIP header structures. Additionally, maintaining updated network baselines and conducting regular security assessments will help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the broader network infrastructure.