CVE-2014-2161 in TelePresence MXP
Summary
by MITRE
The H.225 subsystem in Cisco TelePresence System MXP Series Software before F9.3.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted packets, aka Bug ID CSCty45731.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2161 resides within the H.225 subsystem of Cisco TelePresence System MXP Series Software, representing a critical remote denial of service flaw that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers. This vulnerability affects versions prior to F9.3.1 and specifically targets the H.225 protocol implementation which governs call signaling in telepresence systems. The flaw manifests when the system processes crafted malicious packets that trigger an unexpected device reload, effectively disrupting communication services and rendering the telepresence system unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the protocol level, allowing attackers to leverage standard network traffic to cause system instability without requiring any authentication credentials or privileged access. This makes it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt business communications or create service interruptions in enterprise environments where telepresence systems are deployed. The H.225 protocol is part of the H.323 suite of standards that facilitate multimedia communication over packet networks, making this vulnerability relevant to broader telecommunication security frameworks and standards such as those defined by the ITU-T.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper input validation within the H.225 subsystem's packet processing logic. When the system receives specially crafted packets that contain malformed or unexpected data within the H.225 protocol structure, the parsing routine fails to properly handle these malformed inputs, leading to an abrupt system restart or reload. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically addressing issues with insufficient input sanitization and inadequate error handling in protocol implementations. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution risk, though in this case it manifests as a denial of service rather than arbitrary code execution. The attack vector is network-based, requiring only that an attacker can send packets to the affected system's network interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where telepresence systems are accessible from external networks or where network segmentation is insufficient. The system's failure to properly validate packet contents and handle exceptional conditions during H.225 message processing creates a path for attackers to force system restarts, which can be particularly disruptive in mission-critical communication environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise business continuity and communication infrastructure reliability in organizations relying on Cisco TelePresence systems. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause unexpected downtime for telepresence services, which may be critical for remote collaboration, video conferencing, executive communications, or emergency response systems. The automatic device reload process can result in loss of ongoing calls, disruption of scheduled meetings, and potential data loss from interrupted sessions. Organizations using these systems may experience significant operational disruption, particularly in environments where telepresence is integrated with other communication systems or where backup communication methods are not readily available. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in large enterprise networks where multiple telepresence systems may be affected simultaneously, potentially causing cascading failures or network-wide communication issues. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort, high-impact method for creating service interruptions that can be difficult to distinguish from legitimate network issues, complicating incident response and forensic analysis.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2161 primarily focus on implementing the vendor-provided software updates and patches that address the underlying input validation flaws in the H.225 subsystem. Cisco released software version F9.3.1 and subsequent releases that contain fixes for this vulnerability, making patch management the primary defense mechanism. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of telepresence systems to untrusted networks, using firewalls and access control lists to restrict communication to only necessary network segments. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual traffic patterns or potential exploitation attempts targeting the affected protocol. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signatures for known H.225 protocol anomalies can help identify exploitation attempts before they succeed. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it in the T1499 sub-technique category for Network Denial of Service, with potential connections to broader tactics involving service disruption and availability compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant communication systems or backup telepresence solutions to maintain business continuity during patch deployment or in case of successful exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on telepresence system protocols can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked communication devices within the organization's infrastructure.