CVE-2017-12362 in Meeting Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Meeting Server versions prior to 2.2.2 could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause the system to reload, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is due to video calls being made on systems with a particular configuration. An attacker could exploit this by knowing a valid URI that directs to a Cisco Meeting Server. An attacker could then make a video call and cause the system to reload. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve65931.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12362 represents a critical denial of service weakness in Cisco Meeting Server software versions prior to 2.2.2. This flaw specifically targets the video call processing functionality within the system and operates through a remote authenticated attack vector that requires minimal privileges to exploit. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of video call requests when specific system configurations are present, creating a condition where legitimate video communication attempts can be weaponized to disrupt service availability. The attack requires an authenticated user with valid credentials and knowledge of a specific Uniform Resource Identifier that points to the vulnerable Cisco Meeting Server instance. This configuration-dependent nature means that not all deployments are equally susceptible, but organizations with particular setup parameters face significant risk of operational disruption. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes the weakness as an unspecified weakness in resource management, specifically relating to improper handling of resource consumption during video processing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated attacker leverages a valid URI to establish a video call connection to the targeted Cisco Meeting Server. During this process, the system's handling of the video call parameters triggers an internal reload mechanism that forces the system to restart its operational processes. This reload event effectively terminates all active video conferences and prevents further video call establishment until the system completes its restart cycle. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can disrupt business continuity for organizations relying on collaborative video communication platforms. The attack vector operates through the standard video call initiation process, making it particularly insidious because it can be executed during normal business operations without raising immediate suspicion. The specific Cisco Bug ID CSCve65931 documents the underlying code issue that causes the system to misinterpret certain video call parameters, leading to the unintended reload behavior. This type of vulnerability typically falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through denial of service attacks, specifically targeting the availability aspect of the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant operational risks including disruption of collaborative meetings, potential loss of productivity, and possible business continuity impacts during the system reload periods. The authenticated nature of the attack means that insider threats or compromised accounts could exploit this weakness, making it particularly concerning for organizations with less stringent access controls. The DoS condition can persist for several minutes while the system restarts, creating extended periods of service unavailability that can impact multiple users simultaneously. System administrators should implement immediate mitigation measures including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates to versions 2.2.2 and later, which address the underlying video call processing logic. Network segmentation strategies should be considered to limit access to the Cisco Meeting Server to only authorized users, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of video call initiation that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in multimedia applications, particularly those handling real-time communication protocols. Organizations should also review their access control policies and implement principle of least privilege to minimize the potential impact of credential compromise. Regular security assessments of collaboration platforms and timely patch management procedures are essential to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future, as this weakness highlights the critical need for robust software quality assurance in real-time communication systems.