CVE-2016-1479 in IP Phone 8800
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco IP Phone 8800 devices with software 11.0(1) allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted HTTP request, aka Bug ID CSCuz03038.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1479 affects Cisco IP Phone 8800 series devices running software version 11.0(1) and represents a critical remote code execution risk that can lead to denial of service conditions through memory corruption. This flaw exists within the web server component of the IP phone's operating system, specifically in how it processes incoming HTTP requests. The vulnerability manifests when the device receives a specially crafted HTTP request that triggers improper memory handling, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system crashes. The affected devices operate with embedded web servers that handle various network protocols including HTTP, making them susceptible to exploitation through network-based attacks. This issue falls under the category of buffer overflow vulnerabilities as described in CWE-121, where insufficient memory bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target device without requiring authentication, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to disrupt communication infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the HTTP request processing module of the Cisco IP Phone 8800 software stack. When a malicious HTTP request is received, the device fails to properly sanitize or validate the request parameters before processing them, leading to memory corruption that can result in system instability or complete device failure. The attack vector is straightforward and accessible, requiring only network connectivity to the affected device, which makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where IP phones are often deployed without robust network segmentation. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing of HTTP headers or body content, where the device's web server component attempts to allocate memory for processing the request but fails to account for malicious input that exceeds expected buffer sizes. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause system disruption. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the device, effectively compromising the entire communication endpoint.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1479 is significant for organizations relying on Cisco IP Phone 8800 devices for their voice communication infrastructure. A successful exploitation can result in complete service disruption for affected phones, potentially affecting hundreds or thousands of users depending on the size of the deployment. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can be exploited repeatedly, making it particularly dangerous for mission-critical communication systems. Organizations may experience extended downtime during incident response and remediation efforts, leading to productivity losses and potential security breaches. The vulnerability also poses risks to network stability as compromised devices can potentially affect other network components or serve as entry points for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to data integrity issues and may provide attackers with opportunities to establish persistent access points within the network. According to industry best practices and security frameworks, this vulnerability should be prioritized for immediate remediation due to its remote exploitability and potential for widespread impact across enterprise communication networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1479 should include immediate software patching to address the memory corruption vulnerability in affected Cisco IP Phone 8800 devices. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate IP phone devices from critical network segments and apply firewall rules to restrict HTTP traffic to only authorized sources. The implementation of network monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Device administrators should disable unnecessary web services and features on affected devices, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potentially affected devices within the network infrastructure. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious HTTP request patterns. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing network configurations and services. Organizations should also develop incident response procedures specifically addressing this vulnerability to minimize impact during exploitation attempts and ensure rapid recovery from any successful attacks.