CVE-2014-2167 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 CSCua86589.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2167 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Session Initiation Protocol implementation of Cisco TelePresence and TelePresence Endpoint software versions 4.x through 6.0. This issue affects organizations relying on Cisco's video conferencing infrastructure where the SIP protocol handling mechanism contains a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the processing of malformed SIP packets that are crafted to trigger an unintended system behavior leading to complete device reboot or reload. This flaw falls under the category of CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to system instability and availability disruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends specially crafted SIP packets to a vulnerable Cisco TelePresence device or endpoint. These packets contain malformed data that exceeds the allocated buffer space during the SIP message parsing process. The buffer overflow condition causes the device's memory management to become corrupted, leading to a system crash that results in an automatic device reload or reboot. The flaw exists in the software's SIP stack implementation where insufficient bounds checking is performed on incoming packet data, allowing malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where video conferencing systems are critical infrastructure components for business communications and collaboration.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2167 extends beyond simple service disruption as it can significantly affect business continuity and communication infrastructure reliability. Organizations utilizing Cisco TelePresence systems may experience unexpected downtime during critical meetings or conferences, potentially leading to financial losses and reduced productivity. The vulnerability affects both TelePresence software versions 4.x and 5.x as well as TE software versions 4.x and 6.0, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple product lines. From an attacker's perspective, the exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be performed remotely without authentication, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt communications. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, demonstrating how this flaw fits within broader cyber attack patterns targeting infrastructure availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2167 should focus on immediate software updates and network-level protections. Cisco released patches and software updates addressing this vulnerability, which organizations should deploy immediately to protect their systems. Network administrators should implement filtering rules at firewalls and network access control devices to block suspicious SIP traffic patterns and limit exposure to known malicious packet structures. The vulnerability's exploitation can be detected through network monitoring tools that analyze SIP traffic patterns for anomalous behavior or malformed packet signatures. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify and alert on potential SIP-based attacks. From a security posture perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management programs, particularly for critical communication infrastructure components. The flaw serves as a reminder of the need for robust input validation mechanisms and proper memory management practices in network protocol implementations to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.