CVE-2012-0361 in IP Communicator
Summary
by MITRE
The sccp-protocol component in Cisco IP Communicator (CIPC) 7.0 through 8.6 does not limit the rate of SCCP messages to Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via vectors that trigger (1) on hook and (2) off hook messages, as demonstrated by a Plantronics headset, aka Bug ID CSCti40315.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0361 affects the sccp-protocol component within Cisco IP Communicator versions 7.0 through 8.6, representing a critical denial of service weakness that exploits the lack of rate limiting mechanisms in SCCP message handling. This flaw specifically targets the communication between Cisco IP Communicator clients and Cisco Unified Communications Manager servers, creating an avenue for remote attackers to disrupt normal telephony operations through carefully crafted message sequences. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to implement proper rate limiting controls on SCCP messages, particularly those related to on-hook and off-hook events that are commonly generated by telephony devices such as Plantronics headsets. The issue stems from the protocol implementation's failure to enforce message throttling, allowing malicious actors to flood the communication manager with excessive SCCP traffic that can overwhelm system resources and interrupt legitimate communication services.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the generation of excessive SCCP on-hook and off-hook messages that are sent from the affected Cisco IP Communicator client to the Cisco Unified Communications Manager. These messages are part of the Skinny Client Control Protocol which is used to manage telephony devices and their communication states within the Cisco unified communications environment. When an attacker can manipulate a device or application to continuously send these messages without rate limiting, the target CUCM server becomes overwhelmed with processing demands, leading to resource exhaustion and ultimately service disruption. The attack vector specifically leverages the lack of proper message rate controls in the sccp-protocol implementation, allowing for continuous message generation that can effectively consume system resources and prevent legitimate users from accessing telephony services. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-770, which addresses the allocation of resources without proper limits or throttling mechanisms, and represents a classic example of resource exhaustion attacks that can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for network denial of service.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0361 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise the reliability and availability of enterprise telephony infrastructure. Organizations relying on Cisco Unified Communications Manager for critical business communications face significant risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as it can render telephone systems unusable for extended periods. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but entire departments or organizations that depend on unified communications for business operations, potentially causing cascading effects on productivity and customer service delivery. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as any unauthorized party with network access can potentially exploit the weakness. Furthermore, the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Cisco IP Communicator, indicating a widespread exposure across the affected product line and requiring comprehensive remediation efforts across various system deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0361 primarily focus on implementing rate limiting controls within the SCCP protocol handling mechanisms and applying official Cisco security patches as recommended in their advisory. Organizations should consider implementing network-level controls to limit the rate of SCCP messages flowing between Cisco IP Communicator clients and the Cisco Unified Communications Manager, effectively creating boundaries around message processing to prevent resource exhaustion. Cisco has issued patches and updates addressing this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately across all affected systems to remediate the issue. Additionally, network administrators should monitor SCCP traffic patterns for unusual message rates and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper protocol implementation and resource management controls, emphasizing the need for security by design principles in communication protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant communication systems and backup communication methods to maintain business continuity during potential exploitation events, as the attack can effectively disable critical telephony services. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the unified communications infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.