CVE-2015-0621 in TelePresence
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco TelePresence MCU devices with software 4.5(1.45) allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device reload) via an unspecified series of TCP packets, aka Bug ID CSCur50347.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2017
Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Control Unit devices running software version 4.5(1.45) contain a vulnerability that permits remote attackers to induce a denial of service condition through carefully crafted TCP packet sequences. This vulnerability affects the device's handling of incoming network traffic and can result in an unexpected device reload that disrupts video conferencing services. The flaw exists within the TCP packet processing logic where the device fails to properly validate or handle certain packet combinations, leading to a crash condition that requires manual intervention to restore normal operation. The vulnerability impacts organizations that rely on Cisco TelePresence systems for critical video conferencing infrastructure, potentially causing significant disruption to business communications and collaborative workflows. This issue represents a classic buffer overflow or input validation flaw that allows an attacker to manipulate the device's network stack behavior. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an insufficient input validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations utilizing these devices should consider the operational impact of potential service interruptions, particularly in mission-critical environments where continuous video conferencing availability is essential for business operations.
The attack vector for this vulnerability involves sending a specific sequence of TCP packets to the affected device, which triggers an internal processing error in the TCP stack implementation. The device's failure to properly sanitize incoming packet data allows the attacker to craft packets that cause memory corruption or stack manipulation, ultimately leading to the device crashing and requiring a full system restart. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication credentials or physical access to the device. The exploitation process typically involves sending malformed TCP segments that trigger the device's protocol handling routines to execute unexpected code paths or access invalid memory locations. Network administrators should note that this vulnerability affects not just individual devices but entire conferencing ecosystems that depend on TelePresence MCU functionality for their operations. The device reload required to recover from this attack creates additional operational overhead and potential service disruption for users relying on these systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing network access controls to restrict direct access to TelePresence devices from untrusted networks, applying the latest Cisco security patches and software updates, and configuring network monitoring to detect unusual TCP packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider segmenting TelePresence devices within their network infrastructure to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to software versions that contain fixes for the TCP packet handling issues, as Cisco has released patches specifically addressing this vulnerability. Security teams should implement network intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious TCP traffic patterns associated with this exploit. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and network scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining devices running vulnerable software versions. The implementation of these security controls aligns with industry best practices for protecting critical communication infrastructure and follows the principles of defense in depth as outlined in NIST SP 800-53. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address denial of service attacks targeting video conferencing infrastructure to minimize operational impact during potential exploitation events.