CVE-2015-4253 in TelePresence Serial Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability on Cisco TelePresence Serial Gateway devices with software 1.0(1.42) allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users, aka Bug ID CSCuu90728.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2022
The CVE-2015-4253 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Cisco TelePresence Serial Gateway devices running software version 1.0(1.42). This vulnerability resides within the authentication mechanisms of these telepresence systems, which are widely deployed in enterprise environments for video conferencing and collaboration services. The affected devices operate as serial gateways that facilitate communication between telepresence systems and various network infrastructure components, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise communication networks. The vulnerability specifically affects the device's handling of authentication tokens and session management, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to manipulate the authentication process.
The technical flaw manifests in the device's failure to properly validate and enforce authentication tokens during cross-site requests. When legitimate users interact with the telepresence gateway's web interface, the system should verify that requests originate from authenticated sessions and match the expected user context. However, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users, effectively bypassing the authentication checks. This occurs because the device does not implement proper CSRF token validation or does not adequately correlate session identifiers with request parameters, enabling attackers to exploit the weakness through carefully constructed web requests that leverage existing user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform administrative functions on the affected devices without proper authorization. Attackers can potentially modify device configurations, access sensitive communication data, or disrupt telepresence services that are critical to enterprise operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where telepresence systems are integrated with business-critical applications and networks, as it could enable attackers to gain persistence within the network or serve as a stepping stone for further attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the devices or network credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments with limited physical security controls.
Cisco addressed this vulnerability through software updates that implemented proper CSRF token validation mechanisms and enhanced session management controls. Organizations should prioritize patching affected devices and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within networks where telepresence systems are deployed. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The incident highlights the importance of proper session management and authentication validation in networked devices, particularly those with web interfaces that are accessible from external networks.