CVE-2011-0379 in TelePresence Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow on Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5500 series devices with software 1.6.x; Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch (CTMS) devices with software 1.0.x, 1.1.x, 1.5.x, and 1.6.x; Cisco TelePresence endpoint devices with software 1.2.x through 1.6.x; and Cisco TelePresence Manager 1.2.x, 1.3.x, 1.4.x, 1.5.x, and 1.6.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Cisco Discovery Protocol packet, aka Bug IDs CSCtd75769, CSCtd75766, CSCtd75754, and CSCtd75761.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-0379 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple Cisco network security and telepresence products, including the ASA 5500 series firewalls, Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch devices, endpoint devices, and Cisco TelePresence Manager systems. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) implementation across these affected platforms, creating a remote code execution vector that could be exploited by attackers without authentication. The flaw specifically manifests when the affected devices process malformed CDP packets, which are typically used for network discovery and device identification purposes. The vulnerability affects software versions ranging from 1.6.x for ASA devices to various releases including 1.0.x, 1.1.x, 1.5.x, and 1.6.x for CTMS devices, with endpoint devices impacted from version 1.2.x through 1.6.x, and TelePresence Manager systems affected in versions 1.2.x through 1.6.2. This widespread impact across multiple product lines demonstrates the fundamental nature of the flaw in the CDP processing mechanism.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending a specially crafted CDP packet to the affected device, which then triggers a buffer overflow condition in the memory handling routines. This occurs because the device fails to properly validate the length of incoming CDP packet data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. When the malicious packet exceeds the buffer capacity, it overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical program execution pointers or inject malicious code. The buffer overflow can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process, which typically runs with elevated system privileges on network security devices. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because CDP packets are commonly transmitted across network segments and often reach devices without requiring authentication, making the exploitation feasible from remote network locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0379 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise of affected Cisco devices. Network security appliances like the ASA 5500 series serve as critical gateways and firewalls in enterprise networks, making their compromise a severe threat to overall network security. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device's operating system, potentially leading to complete network infiltration, data exfiltration, or disruption of network services. The affected TelePresence devices, which are often used for critical business communications, could be compromised to facilitate surveillance or denial-of-service attacks against important corporate communications. From an attack methodology perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpretation, as the successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious commands through the compromised device. The impact is particularly severe for organizations relying on these devices for network security, as the compromise of a single device could potentially provide attackers with a foothold to target other systems within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including disabling CDP on network interfaces where it is not required, applying the latest security patches released by Cisco, and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Network administrators should also consider monitoring for unusual CDP traffic patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed CDP packets. The recommended approach for remediation involves upgrading all affected devices to patched software versions, with particular attention to the ASA 5500 series and TelePresence product lines. Additionally, implementing network access controls to restrict CDP packet transmission and utilizing network monitoring tools to detect suspicious traffic patterns can provide additional layers of protection. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected hardware and software, ensuring that the mitigation measures are comprehensive across their entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in network protocols and demonstrates how seemingly benign discovery mechanisms can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malformed data inputs.