CVE-2017-6652 in TelePresence IX5000
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework of the Cisco TelePresence IX5000 Series could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to access arbitrary files on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using directory traversal techniques to read files within the Cisco TelePresence IX5000 Series filesystem. This vulnerability affects Cisco TelePresence IX5000 Series devices running software version 8.2.0. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc52325.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6652 affects the Cisco TelePresence IX5000 Series video conferencing devices and represents a critical security flaw in the web framework component. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running software version 8.2.0 and creates a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw manifests as a directory traversal vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate file access requests and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system files and data stored within the device's filesystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on directory traversal techniques that manipulate input parameters to navigate beyond the intended file access boundaries. Attackers can construct malicious requests that bypass normal file access controls and retrieve arbitrary files from the device's file system, potentially exposing configuration data, user credentials, system logs, and other sensitive information. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The weakness exists in the web application layer where user input is not adequately validated or sanitized before being used in file system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it could enable attackers to gather intelligence about the device configuration, extract system information, and potentially escalate their privileges within the network. The affected Cisco TelePresence IX5000 Series devices are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where they may serve as critical communication infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive meeting data, system configuration files, and potentially use this information to launch further attacks against other systems within the network perimeter. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation means that any remote attacker with network access to the device could potentially exploit this vulnerability, significantly expanding the attack surface.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the input validation weakness in the web framework. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit unauthorized network access to these devices, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious file access patterns or directory traversal attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of files and directories. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network components, as this type of path traversal vulnerability is commonly found in web applications and embedded systems where proper input sanitization is not implemented. Device administrators should also consider implementing network access control lists and disabling unnecessary services to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.