CVE-2014-2174 in TelePresence
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TelePresence T, TelePresence TE, and TelePresence TC before 7.1 do not properly implement access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain root privileges by sending packets on the local network and allows physically proximate attackers to obtain root privileges via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCub67651.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2022
Cisco TelePresence systems including the T, TE, and TC series devices prior to version 7.1 contained a critical access control vulnerability that enabled unauthorized privilege escalation. This vulnerability manifested through two distinct attack vectors, one targeting remote network access and another exploiting physical proximity to the device. The flaw allowed attackers to gain root privileges without proper authentication mechanisms, fundamentally compromising the security posture of these video conferencing systems. The vulnerability stemmed from insufficient validation of access requests and improper implementation of privilege separation within the device's network stack and local authentication services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved weaknesses in the device's access control mechanisms that failed to properly verify the authenticity and authorization of incoming network requests. Remote attackers could exploit this by sending specially crafted packets to the local network interface of the TelePresence device, bypassing normal authentication procedures that should have required proper credentials or network segmentation. Additionally, physically proximate attackers could leverage unspecified vectors that likely involved direct hardware manipulation or exploitation of local network interfaces without requiring network connectivity. This dual attack surface significantly increased the exploitability of the vulnerability, as it could be targeted from both remote locations and through physical access to the device. The vulnerability was catalogued as CSCub67651 and represented a fundamental failure in the device's security architecture, allowing unauthorized users to escalate privileges to the highest level of system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe for organizations relying on Cisco TelePresence systems for secure communications. A successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain complete administrative control over the device, potentially enabling them to monitor communications, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or use the device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability particularly affected enterprise environments where TelePresence systems were used for sensitive business meetings and government communications, as it could lead to data breaches and unauthorized access to confidential information. Organizations using these devices without proper network segmentation or physical security controls faced the highest risk of exploitation, as the vulnerability could be leveraged by both external attackers and insiders with access to the local network or physical proximity to the devices.
Organizations should have immediately implemented mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should have been strengthened to limit access to TelePresence devices to authorized personnel only, with proper firewall rules and VLAN configurations to prevent unauthorized network access. Physical security measures including device access controls and monitoring should have been enhanced to prevent unauthorized physical access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system design. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could be used to establish persistent access within target networks. Organizations should have conducted comprehensive security assessments of their TelePresence deployments and ensured proper network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The incident highlighted the importance of secure device configuration and proper access control implementation in enterprise communication systems.