CVE-2014-2164 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 CSCuj94651.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2164 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Cisco's TelePresence communication software implementations. This vulnerability specifically affects SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) processing functionality in Cisco TelePresence TC Software versions 4.x and 5.x, as well as TE Software versions 4.x and 6.0. The flaw enables remote attackers to trigger device restarts through the careful crafting of malicious SIP packets, effectively disrupting critical communication services in enterprise and organizational environments where these systems are deployed.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the SIP processing module of the affected Cisco software versions. When the system receives specially crafted SIP packets, the malformed data causes the TelePresence device to crash and subsequently reload its operating system. This behavior manifests as an uncontrolled device restart, which can occur repeatedly if the attacker continues to send malicious packets, resulting in sustained service disruption. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level, leveraging weaknesses in how the software handles incoming SIP messages without proper sanitization or error handling mechanisms.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco TelePresence systems for critical communications infrastructure. The denial of service impact can severely disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where video conferencing and remote collaboration are essential. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by threat actors from external networks. The automatic device reload process not only interrupts ongoing meetings but also potentially causes loss of session state and configuration data, requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate TelePresence devices from untrusted networks, deployment of intrusion prevention systems to detect and block malicious SIP traffic patterns, and application of Cisco's official security patches released to address this vulnerability. The flaw aligns with CWE-129, which covers improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a typical example of how protocol implementation weaknesses can lead to denial of service conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving service stoppage and system resource exhaustion, demonstrating how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create substantial operational impacts in enterprise communication systems.