CVE-2014-0660 in TelePresence ISDN Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TelePresence ISDN Gateway with software before 2.2(1.92) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (D-channel call outage) via a crafted Q.931 STATUS message, aka Bug ID CSCui50360.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0660 affects Cisco TelePresence ISDN Gateway devices running software versions prior to 2.2(1.92). This flaw represents a critical denial of service condition that specifically targets the D-channel communication protocol used in ISDN networks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it enables remote attackers to disrupt telepresence services by exploiting weaknesses in the Q.931 signaling protocol implementation. The affected devices operate within enterprise communication infrastructures where reliable video conferencing and telepresence services are essential for business continuity and remote collaboration. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the gateway's Q.931 message processing mechanism, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted STATUS messages that trigger unexpected behavior in the device's signaling stack.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of Q.931 messages, which are fundamental components of the ISDN protocol suite used for call control and signaling. When a crafted STATUS message is received by the vulnerable gateway, it triggers an improper handling of the message structure that leads to the D-channel call outage. This occurs because the device lacks proper bounds checking and validation of incoming signaling messages, allowing an attacker to send malformed data that causes the gateway to enter an unstable state or crash entirely. The D-channel is responsible for carrying call setup, call control, and other signaling information in ISDN networks, making its disruption particularly damaging to service availability. This flaw aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input sanitization can lead to system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects enterprise communication infrastructure that relies heavily on ISDN-based telepresence systems. Organizations using affected Cisco TelePresence ISDN Gateways face potential business interruptions during critical video conferences, meetings, and collaborative sessions. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the corporate network without requiring physical access or elevated privileges within the local network. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to cybercriminals seeking to disrupt business operations. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise, as it does not require specialized knowledge of the underlying ISDN protocol stack, making it a preferred target for broad-based attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1486 (Data Destruction) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) categories, as it enables adversaries to disrupt services and potentially cause data loss through call termination.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-supplied software patches that address the Q.931 message handling flaws in the affected Cisco TelePresence ISDN Gateway software versions. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous Q.931 message patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed signaling messages targeting ISDN gateway devices. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to ensure that all telepresence infrastructure components remain up to date with the latest security patches. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to avoid unintended service disruptions. Organizations should also develop incident response procedures specifically addressing ISDN gateway vulnerabilities to ensure rapid response and recovery in case of successful exploitation attempts.