CVE-2015-0653 in TelePresence Video Communication Server
Summary
by MITRE
The management interface in Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) and Cisco Expressway before X7.2.4, X8 before X8.1.2, and X8.2 before X8.2.2 and Cisco TelePresence Conductor before X2.3.1 and XC2.4 before XC2.4.1 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via crafted login parameters, aka Bug IDs CSCur02680 and CSCur05556.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0653 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting Cisco's unified communications infrastructure, specifically targeting the management interfaces of TelePresence Video Communication Server VCS and Expressway products. This vulnerability impacts multiple product versions across different release lines, including VCS and Expressway versions prior to X7.2.4, X8.1.2, and X8.2.2, as well as TelePresence Conductor versions before X2.3.1 and XC2.4 versions before XC2.4.1. The flaw enables remote attackers to circumvent the authentication mechanism through the manipulation of login parameters, effectively granting unauthorized access to administrative functions without proper credentials.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and authentication handling within the management interface components of these Cisco products. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific login parameters that bypass the normal authentication flow, allowing them to gain administrative access to the affected systems. This authentication bypass occurs at the application layer and affects the web-based management interfaces that administrators use to configure and manage the telepresence systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates entirely at the network level, requiring no local access or physical presence, and can be exploited remotely over the network.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0653 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with full administrative privileges to compromise affected Cisco TelePresence systems. Once authenticated, attackers can modify system configurations, access sensitive communication data, manipulate user accounts, and potentially escalate their privileges further within the network. The vulnerability affects the core management functionality of these systems, which typically handle critical communication infrastructure, making the potential damage substantial for organizations relying on these telepresence solutions. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to video conferencing systems, potential data breaches, and disruption of critical communication services that depend on these platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of Cisco's official security patches and updates, as the company released specific fixes for the affected versions. Organizations should prioritize patching all affected systems to prevent exploitation, while also implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and initial access techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 credential access sub-technique. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous login patterns and unauthorized access attempts, while security teams should implement strict access controls and regularly audit system configurations to identify any unauthorized changes that may have occurred due to exploitation attempts.