CVE-2015-6284 in TelePresence Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Conference Control Protocol API implementation in Cisco TelePresence Server software before 4.1(2.33) on 7010, MSE 8710, Multiparty Media 310 and 320, and Virtual Machine devices allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device crash) via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCuu28277.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6284 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Conference Control Protocol API implementation of Cisco TelePresence Server software. This security weakness affects multiple Cisco telepresence devices including the 7010, MSE 8710, Multiparty Media 310 and 320 systems, as well as Virtual Machine devices operating on software versions prior to 4.1(2.33). The flaw manifests when the system processes a specially crafted URL, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, specifically representing a stack-based buffer overflow that occurs when insufficient bounds checking is performed on user-supplied input data. The affected systems process incoming URL requests through the Conference Control Protocol API without adequate validation mechanisms, allowing malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially compromise the entire telepresence infrastructure. When exploited, the buffer overflow causes the affected device to crash and reboot, resulting in complete service disruption for video conferencing operations. This type of attack directly violates the availability principle of the CIA triad and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely heavily on telepresence systems for business continuity and remote collaboration, as the attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access or authentication credentials. The exploitation requires only the ability to send a malicious URL to the target system, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors from script kiddies to sophisticated adversaries.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Cisco, which address the buffer overflow condition in the Conference Control Protocol API implementation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enforced to limit exposure of telepresence systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous URL requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in network-facing applications, particularly in telephony and video conferencing systems where availability is paramount. Cisco's advisory specifically recommends upgrading to software version 4.1(2.33) or later, which includes fixed implementations of the Conference Control Protocol API with proper buffer management and input validation controls. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed URL requests targeting known vulnerable endpoints, while maintaining comprehensive logging of all telepresence system activities for forensic analysis purposes.