CVE-2012-1328 in Unified Ip Phone
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Unified IP Phones 9900 series devices with firmware 9.1 and 9.2 do not properly handle downloads of configuration information to an RT phone, which allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified injected data, aka Bug ID CSCts32237.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1328 affects Cisco Unified IP Phones 9900 series devices running firmware versions 9.1 and 9.2, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that resides within the device's configuration download handling mechanism. This issue specifically impacts the RT phone variant of the Cisco Unified IP Phone 9900 series, which operates under the Cisco IOS operating system and serves as a voice communication endpoint within enterprise networks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization processes during the configuration information download procedure, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to inject malicious data into the system's configuration handling pipeline.
The technical flaw manifests when the device processes configuration downloads from external sources, particularly during the initialization phase of RT phone operations. Local users with access to the device can manipulate the configuration data injection process through unspecified methods that bypass normal validation controls. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing it. The attack vector involves local access to the device, meaning that an attacker must already have some level of access to the phone itself, but once achieved, the privilege escalation allows for unauthorized elevation of privileges within the device's operating environment. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation issue that can potentially enable attackers to gain administrative control over the affected phone.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of voice communications within the affected network segments. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially modify phone configurations, intercept voice communications, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This flaw particularly affects enterprise environments where Cisco Unified IP Phones serve as critical communication endpoints, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt business operations or gain unauthorized access to sensitive voice data. The vulnerability represents a significant security risk because it allows local attackers to escalate privileges without requiring external network access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical access to network devices cannot be fully controlled.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address the configuration download handling flaw, along with network segmentation strategies that limit local access to critical IP phone devices. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, where the attacker can establish a foothold within the network infrastructure. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their phone inventory to identify all affected devices running the vulnerable firmware versions, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous configuration changes or unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management practices and proper input validation controls within embedded systems, reinforcing the need for robust security measures in network infrastructure devices. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other network components.