CVE-2014-0662 in TelePresence Video Communication Server
Summary
by MITRE
The SIP module in Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) before 8.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process failure) via a crafted SDP message, aka Bug ID CSCue97632.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0662 affects the Session Initiation Protocol module within Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server VCS versions prior to 8.1. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to trigger process failures through the careful crafting of Session Description Protocol messages. The vulnerability operates at the network communication layer where SIP signaling is processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from external networks without requiring authentication or prior access to the system. The specific nature of the flaw lies in the insufficient input validation mechanisms within the SDP parsing functionality, which fails to properly handle malformed or specially constructed session descriptions that could cause the underlying processes to crash or become unresponsive.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the SIP processing stack of the VCS platform. When the system receives a maliciously crafted SDP message, the parsing routine encounters unexpected data structures or malformed parameters that it cannot properly interpret or discard. This leads to a cascade of failures within the process management system where the affected service either terminates unexpectedly or enters a state where it becomes unresponsive to legitimate requests. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered by sending a single malformed SDP packet, making it particularly effective for disrupting video communication services. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input ranges, and represents a classic example of buffer over-read or improper input sanitization that can lead to process termination.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0662 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical video communication infrastructure. Organizations relying on Cisco TelePresence systems for business continuity, remote collaboration, or emergency communication services face significant risk when this vulnerability exists in their environment. The remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the internet, making the attack surface extremely broad. The vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent service outages that affect multiple users simultaneously, potentially disrupting important meetings, emergency response communications, or business-critical video conferencing operations. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the denial of service category within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the technique of service disruption or system resource exhaustion.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches that address the SDP parsing vulnerability in VCS versions prior to 8.1. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and robust error handling in communication protocols, particularly those handling real-time media streams. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed SDP messages and automatically block or quarantine suspicious traffic. Regular security assessments of telepresence and video communication systems are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the communication infrastructure, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader issues in protocol implementation and input validation practices.