CVE-2014-2175 in TelePresence TC
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TelePresence TC Software 4.x and 5.x and TE Software 4.x and 6.0 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via crafted H.225 packets, aka Bug ID CSCtq78849.
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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 vulnerability that enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition through the careful crafting of H.225 protocol packets. This vulnerability specifically targets the memory management mechanisms within the telepresence software stack, where malformed H.225 packets can cause the system to consume excessive memory resources leading to system instability and potential complete service disruption. The flaw resides in the protocol handling logic that fails to properly validate incoming H.225 packet structures, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system's memory allocation routines through crafted packet sequences that cause unbounded memory growth. This vulnerability maps to CWE-129 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which addresses improper input validation leading to memory corruption and resource exhaustion conditions. The attack vector operates entirely over the network without requiring any authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the affected telepresence system. The operational impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the memory consumption can lead to system crashes, requiring manual intervention for recovery and potentially causing business continuity issues in critical communication environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure components. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cisco TelePresence solutions for critical video conferencing operations, where service availability is paramount for business operations and remote collaboration. The memory consumption behavior manifests as progressive system slowdown followed by complete system unresponsiveness, making detection difficult as the system may appear to be operating normally until the memory exhaustion occurs. The exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt business operations or test system resilience. Organizations should prioritize applying Cisco's security advisories and patches that address the H.225 packet validation issues, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should also consider implementing rate limiting and packet filtering rules targeting H.225 protocol traffic to reduce the attack surface and provide additional defense in depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in real-time communication systems where malformed packets can have cascading effects on system stability and resource availability.