CVE-2016-6448 in Meeting Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Session Description Protocol (SDP) parser of Cisco Meeting Server could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected system. This vulnerability affects the following products: Cisco Meeting Server releases prior to Release 2.0.3, Acano Server releases 1.9.x prior to Release 1.9.5, Acano Server releases 1.8.x prior to Release 1.8.17. More Information: CSCva76004. Known Affected Releases: 1.8.x 1.92.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-6448 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Session Description Protocol parser of Cisco Meeting Server and Acano Server products. This flaw exists in the handling of malformed SDP messages that are used to describe multimedia sessions in VoIP and video conferencing systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management when processing specially crafted SDP payloads, creating an opportunity for remote code execution without authentication requirements. The affected systems include Cisco Meeting Server versions prior to 2.0.3 and various Acano Server releases including 1.9.x versions before 1.9.5 and 1.8.x versions before 1.8.17, with the specific mention of 1.92.0 as a known affected release. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate credentials and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers could potentially gain system-level access through this vector. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it allows for complete system compromise through remote exploitation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the SDP parser encounters malformed input data that exceeds allocated buffer boundaries during session description processing. Attackers can craft malicious SDP messages containing oversized fields or malformed parameters that trigger memory corruption when parsed by the vulnerable servers. The buffer overflow condition typically manifests when the parser fails to properly validate the length of incoming SDP attributes, causing data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information, enabling attackers to redirect execution flow and inject malicious code. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise communication systems. The lack of authentication requirements significantly increases the attack surface, as any remote user capable of sending SDP messages to the affected server can potentially exploit this vulnerability.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6448 poses severe consequences for organizations relying on affected communication platforms, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. Organizations utilizing these servers for video conferencing, collaboration, and unified communications services face potential data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to sensitive business communications. The vulnerability affects critical infrastructure components that often serve as central points for enterprise communication, making the potential impact on business continuity significant. Attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access to corporate networks, monitor communications, exfiltrate sensitive information, or use the compromised servers as launch points for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's presence in both Cisco Meeting Server and Acano Server products creates widespread exposure across different vendor ecosystems, requiring coordinated patch management efforts. Organizations may experience service outages during patch deployment, and the vulnerability could be exploited during the window between vulnerability disclosure and patch installation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6448 should include immediate implementation of security patches provided by Cisco and Acano, along with network segmentation and monitoring of SDP traffic. Organizations should deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed SDP messages and implement network access controls to restrict unnecessary SDP traffic to affected servers. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Cisco Meeting Server 2.0.3 or later and Acano Server 1.9.5 or 1.8.17, which contain fixes addressing the buffer overflow conditions in the SDP parser. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring for suspicious SDP message patterns, disabling unnecessary SDP processing capabilities, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of communication infrastructure. Security teams should also consider implementing application-level firewalls or proxies that can filter and validate SDP content before it reaches the vulnerable servers. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the future, with particular attention to input validation and memory management practices in communication protocol implementations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the need for robust input validation in network protocol implementations.