CVE-2013-3454 in TelePresence System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TelePresence System Software 1.10.1 and earlier on 500, 13X0, 1X00, 30X0, and 3X00 devices, and 6.0.3 and earlier on TX 9X00 devices, has a default password for the pwrecovery account, which makes it easier for remote attackers to modify the configuration or perform arbitrary actions via HTTPS requests, aka Bug ID CSCui43128.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3454 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco TelePresence System Software affecting multiple device families including 500, 13X0, 1X00, 30X0, 3X00, and TX 9X00 series. This weakness stems from the implementation of a hardcoded default password for the pwrecovery account, a credential that should never be present in production environments. The vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and specifically aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software. The affected software versions demonstrate a fundamental failure in secure configuration management where default administrative accounts retain their initial passwords instead of being disabled or having their credentials changed during installation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through HTTPS requests that allow remote attackers to authenticate using the default password associated with the pwrecovery account. This account is designed for power recovery procedures but has been improperly configured to remain active and accessible in production environments. Attackers can leverage this default credential to gain unauthorized access to the system configuration, enabling them to modify critical system parameters, inject malicious configurations, or perform arbitrary actions that compromise the integrity and availability of the TelePresence system. The remote nature of this attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the devices, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to fundamentally alter the system's operational behavior and security posture. Remote attackers can modify network configurations, disable security features, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates a backdoor that bypasses normal authentication procedures. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where TelePresence systems are often integrated with sensitive communication networks, potentially allowing attackers to monitor or manipulate video conferencing sessions, access confidential information exchanged during meetings, or disrupt critical business communications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including disabling or removing the pwrecovery account from all affected systems, changing default passwords for all administrative accounts, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to these devices. The remediation process should involve thorough inventory management to identify all affected devices and ensure proper configuration changes are applied consistently across all systems. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper secure configuration practices and highlights the need for regular security assessments of networked devices. The incident also underscores the necessity of following security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls for system hardening and credential management. Organizations should also consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's credential access techniques to better understand potential attack vectors and improve their defensive strategies against similar vulnerabilities in other networked systems.