CVE-2014-2173 in TelePresence TC
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TelePresence TC Software 4.x and 5.x and TE Software 4.x and 6.0 do not properly restrict access to the serial port, which allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified commands, aka Bug ID CSCub67692.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
Cisco TelePresence systems running software versions 4.x and 5.x for TC platforms and 4.x and 6.0 for TE platforms contain a critical privilege escalation vulnerability through improper serial port access control. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-264 category of Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, specifically manifesting as insufficient access control over system resources. The flaw exists in the software's handling of serial port communications where local attackers can exploit unspecified commands to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative access, creating a persistent backdoor within the system architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access restriction mechanisms within the serial communication interface. When legitimate system processes attempt to interact with the serial port for device communication, the software fails to properly authenticate or authorize these operations, allowing malicious local users to inject commands that bypass normal security controls. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector where the attacker leverages legitimate system interfaces to gain elevated privileges without requiring external network access or complex exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Cisco TelePresence systems for secure communications and video conferencing. Once exploited, local users can gain full administrative control over the device, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical communications infrastructure. The vulnerability affects both TelePresence Conference (TC) and TelePresence Endpoint (TE) platforms, creating widespread exposure across enterprise video conferencing deployments. The lack of network-based exploitation requirements makes this particularly dangerous in environments where physical access to devices cannot be adequately controlled.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates, disabling unused serial ports where possible, and implementing strict physical access controls to prevent unauthorized local access to affected devices. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious serial port activity, while privileged access controls should be reviewed and strengthened. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local system exploits, and T1566 which addresses social engineering attacks that could leverage such access for further compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software versions within the organization's infrastructure.