CVE-2012-3073 in Telepresence System Software
Summary
by MITRE
The IP implementation on Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch before 1.8.1, Cisco TelePresence Manager before 1.9.0, and Cisco TelePresence Recording Server 1.8 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (networking outage or process crash) via (1) malformed IP packets, (2) a high rate of TCP connection requests, or (3) a high rate of TCP connection terminations, aka Bug IDs CSCti21830, CSCti21851, CSCtj19100, CSCtj19086, CSCtj19078, CSCty11219, CSCty11299, CSCty11323, and CSCty11338.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3073 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting Cisco TelePresence systems, specifically targeting the IP networking implementation within multipoint switches, manager applications, and recording servers. This flaw exists in versions prior to 1.8.1 for the TelePresence Multipoint Switch, 1.9.0 for the TelePresence Manager, and 1.8 for the TelePresence Recording Server, creating a significant operational risk for organizations relying on these unified communications platforms. The vulnerability operates through three distinct attack vectors that exploit fundamental network protocol handling mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous due to its broad impact across multiple Cisco TelePresence components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three primary methods that target different aspects of TCP/IP network stack processing. The first vector involves sending malformed IP packets that can cause the affected systems to crash or become unresponsive, while the second vector utilizes a high rate of TCP connection requests to overwhelm the system's ability to process legitimate connections, and the third vector employs rapid TCP connection terminations to destabilize the network services. These attack methods leverage weaknesses in how the Cisco TelePresence systems handle network protocol parsing and connection management, with each approach designed to exhaust system resources or trigger memory corruption that results in process failures or complete network outages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core networking functionality that is essential for video conferencing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3073 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire network infrastructure availability for organizations using Cisco TelePresence solutions. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause complete networking outages that affect critical business communications, leading to productivity losses, missed meetings, and potential revenue impact for enterprises dependent on these systems. The attack vectors are relatively simple to implement, requiring minimal technical expertise to execute, which increases the likelihood of successful exploitation. Organizations may experience cascading failures as the affected systems become unresponsive, potentially impacting other network services that depend on the TelePresence infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Cisco TelePresence products creates a widespread risk that organizations must address through coordinated patching efforts.
Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through software updates that improve IP packet validation and enhance TCP connection handling mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize patching their TelePresence systems to prevent exploitation, with particular attention to the specific version numbers mentioned in the vulnerability description. The remediation process requires careful planning due to the critical nature of these systems in enterprise communications environments. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address successful attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input, and represents a classic example of how network protocol implementation flaws can create denial of service conditions that affect system availability. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499, specifically targeting network denial of service conditions through exploitation of system weaknesses. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack surface while applying the necessary security patches to protect their TelePresence infrastructure from exploitation.