CVE-2014-2157 in TelePresence MXP
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TelePresence System MXP Series Software before F9.3.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted SIP packets, aka Bug ID CSCty45733.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2157 affects Cisco TelePresence System MXP Series Software versions prior to F9.3.1, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely through crafted SIP packets. This vulnerability specifically targets the media processing unit within Cisco's TelePresence systems, which are widely deployed in enterprise video conferencing environments for secure communication and collaboration. The flaw manifests when the system processes malformed or specially crafted Session Initiation Protocol messages that trigger an unexpected behavior in the device's processing logic, ultimately leading to a complete device reload or reboot.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SIP message handling component of the MXP Series software stack. When the system receives maliciously crafted SIP packets containing malformed parameters or unexpected data sequences, the underlying processing engine fails to properly handle these inputs and instead triggers an internal error condition that cascades into a system restart. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-248, Unchecked Error Condition, as the system does not properly validate incoming SIP data or handle error conditions gracefully. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and leverages the SIP protocol's inherent complexity to exploit memory management and state handling weaknesses within the TelePresence device firmware.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where TelePresence systems are often connected directly to corporate networks. Organizations utilizing these devices for critical business communications face significant risk of service interruption during important meetings or conferences, potentially leading to financial losses and operational downtime. The vulnerability's exploitation capability allows attackers to repeatedly cause device reloads, creating a persistent denial of service condition that can be difficult to distinguish from legitimate system failures, thus complicating incident response and network troubleshooting efforts. This weakness directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, as it specifically targets network availability through device-level service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2157 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patches and firmware updates that address the input validation deficiencies in the SIP processing component. Cisco released software updates that include enhanced input validation routines and improved error handling mechanisms to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement additional protective measures such as deploying firewalls or network access control lists that filter SIP traffic at the network perimeter, limiting the exposure of vulnerable devices to external threats. The implementation of intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious SIP packet patterns can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider segmenting TelePresence devices within their network architecture to limit the potential impact of successful attacks and ensure that only authorized network segments can communicate with these devices. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of deployed TelePresence systems should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses that may exist in other components of the overall system architecture, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation across all network services and protocols.