CVE-2013-3405 in Telepresence Tc Software
Summary
by MITRE
The web portal in TC software on Cisco TelePresence endpoints does not require an exact password match during a login attempt by a user who has not configured a password, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by sending an arbitrary password, aka Bug ID CSCud96071.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3405 affects the web portal functionality within Cisco TelePresence endpoints running TC software. This authentication flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental security controls designed to protect enterprise communication systems. The issue specifically manifests in the login validation process where the system fails to enforce strict password matching when users attempt to authenticate without having configured a password. This behavior creates an exploitable condition that fundamentally compromises the integrity of the authentication mechanism.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and authentication logic within the web portal component of Cisco TelePresence endpoints. When a user attempts to log in without a configured password, the system should either reject the attempt or require proper credential setup before proceeding. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to bypass this requirement entirely by simply submitting any arbitrary password string. This occurs because the system does not enforce exact string matching against a null or empty password value, instead accepting any input as valid for authentication. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms and aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication scenarios in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations deploying Cisco TelePresence endpoints in enterprise environments. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the web portal interface without requiring legitimate credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Once authenticated, attackers could modify system configurations, access sensitive communication data, monitor network traffic, or escalate privileges to gain deeper access to the underlying network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, representing a substantial risk to enterprise security posture and compliance requirements. This weakness particularly impacts organizations that rely on TelePresence systems for secure video conferencing and collaboration, as it undermines the security controls designed to protect these critical communication assets.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the latest security patches from Cisco as recommended in their security advisories. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of TelePresence endpoints to untrusted networks. Additionally, administrators should verify that all endpoints have properly configured passwords and disable unnecessary web portal access when not required for administrative purposes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust authentication mechanisms and proper input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Regular security assessments and monitoring of authentication logs should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms where possible to add additional layers of security beyond basic password authentication. The incident highlights the critical need for thorough security testing of networked devices and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations to prevent unauthorized access to enterprise communication systems.