CVE-2012-3074 in Telepresence System Tx9000
Summary
by MITRE
An unspecified API on Cisco TelePresence Immersive Endpoint Devices before 1.9.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands by leveraging certain adjacency and sending a malformed request on TCP port 61460, aka Bug ID CSCtz38382.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3074 affects Cisco TelePresence Immersive Endpoint Devices running firmware versions prior to 1.9.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote command execution through a malformed API request. This vulnerability specifically targets an unspecified API interface that operates on TCP port 61460, which is commonly used for device management and communication within Cisco TelePresence systems. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the device's API implementation, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that bypass normal security controls and execute arbitrary code on the affected devices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to be in network adjacency to the target device, meaning they must have access to the same local network segment or be able to establish a connection through network routing. This adjacency requirement reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers can potentially achieve network adjacency through various means including network sniffing, man-in-the-middle attacks, or by compromising other devices within the same network segment. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, leveraging the device's API to process malformed requests that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions, ultimately allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected Cisco TelePresence devices. Once exploited, adversaries can gain full administrative access to the device, enabling them to modify device configurations, extract sensitive data, install malicious software, or use the compromised device as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. The vulnerability can also be leveraged to disrupt telepresence services, potentially causing business continuity issues for organizations that rely on these communication systems for critical business operations, video conferencing, and remote collaboration activities. Additionally, the compromised device could be used to launch further attacks against other network resources, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with the immediate upgrade of affected Cisco TelePresence Immersive Endpoint Devices to firmware version 1.9.1 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to TCP port 61460, limiting the attack surface and preventing unauthorized access to the device management interface. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns on the affected port, helping to identify potential exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the device management interfaces, and all access should be logged and monitored for suspicious activity. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists to restrict which devices can communicate with the telepresence systems on port 61460, reducing the likelihood of successful exploitation through adjacent network access. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to buffer overflow conditions and memory corruption vulnerabilities, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving remote code execution and privilege escalation.