CVE-2015-6360 in libsrtp
Summary
by MITRE
The encryption-processing feature in Cisco libSRTP before 1.5.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted fields in SRTP packets, aka Bug ID CSCux00686.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6360 affects Cisco's libSRTP library version 1.5.2 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the Secure Real-time Transport Protocol implementation. This issue manifests within the encryption-processing feature of the library, which is widely utilized in telecommunications systems for securing voice and video communications. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks by manipulating specific fields within SRTP packets, effectively disrupting legitimate communication services. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and processing of malformed packet structures that the library fails to handle gracefully, leading to system instability and service interruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of SRTP packet headers and payload fields that control encryption parameters and packet processing. Attackers can craft malicious packets containing specially formatted fields that trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, or invalid state transitions within the libSRTP library. This processing error causes the application or system utilizing the library to crash or become unresponsive, thereby achieving the denial of service objective. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems that rely on libSRTP for securing real-time communications, including VoIP systems, video conferencing platforms, and other multimedia applications that implement the SRTP protocol for security.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of CVE-2015-6360 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire communication infrastructures. Organizations deploying Cisco products that utilize libSRTP for securing real-time media streams face significant risk of service interruptions that could affect business continuity and customer satisfaction. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, requiring minimal privileges and technical expertise to execute successful attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a classic example of how cryptographic libraries can become attack vectors when proper input sanitization is absent. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service, specifically targeting network communications infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to libSRTP version 1.5.3 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as Cisco has released patches addressing the underlying buffer handling and input validation issues. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems utilizing vulnerable versions of the library, particularly those implementing SRTP for voice and video communications. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in cryptographic libraries and highlights the need for thorough security testing of security-critical components within telecommunications infrastructure. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs should include specific checks for libSRTP versions to prevent similar issues from affecting operational systems.