CVE-2014-2162 in TelePresence TC
Summary
by MITRE
The SIP implementation in Cisco TelePresence TC Software 4.x and 5.x and TE Software 4.x and 6.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via crafted SIP packets, aka Bug ID CSCud29566.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2162 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Session Initiation Protocol implementation of Cisco's TelePresence and TelePresence Endpoint software solutions. This weakness affects versions 4.x and 5.x of the TC Software and versions 4.x and 6.0 of the TE Software, creating a significant operational risk for organizations relying on Cisco's video conferencing infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the SIP processing subsystem, which fails to properly handle malformed or crafted SIP packets that could trigger unexpected behavior in the affected software components.
The technical flaw manifests when the affected Cisco TelePresence systems receive specially crafted SIP packets that exploit a buffer handling vulnerability in the software's SIP parser. This allows remote attackers to send malicious SIP messages that cause the device to crash and subsequently reload its operating system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust placed in SIP signaling communications, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access or authentication credentials. The flaw specifically relates to improper handling of SIP message structures and lacks adequate bounds checking during packet processing, creating a path for malicious input to disrupt normal device operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business continuity and communication infrastructure reliability. Organizations utilizing Cisco TelePresence systems in mission-critical environments face the risk of unexpected device restarts that could interrupt important video conferences, meetings, or collaborative sessions. The automatic device reload functionality means that the disruption is not merely temporary but results in complete system reboot, potentially causing loss of ongoing communications and requiring manual intervention to restore services. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprises that depend on continuous video conferencing capabilities, as the timing of such attacks could coincide with critical business operations or sensitive discussions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2162 should prioritize immediate software updates from Cisco to address the underlying buffer handling issues in the SIP implementation. Organizations must implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, while also deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SIP traffic patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input ranges, and reflects techniques commonly associated with attack vectors in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the execution and privilege escalation categories. Network administrators should also consider implementing rate limiting on SIP traffic and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle device reload scenarios, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations while maintaining security posture against similar vulnerabilities.