CVE-2018-17875 in Poly Trio 8800
Summary
by MITRE • 12/28/2021
A remote code execution issue in the ping command on Poly Trio 8800 5.7.1.4145 devices allows remote authenticated users to execute commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2018-17875 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in the ping command implementation of Poly Trio 8800 video conferencing devices running firmware version 5.7.1.4145. This issue affects the telephony and collaboration infrastructure by exposing a command injection vector that can be exploited by authenticated attackers who have network access to the device. The vulnerability resides within the device's handling of ping commands, which are typically used for network diagnostics and connectivity testing. The unspecified vectors suggest that the command injection occurs during the processing of user-supplied parameters or input validation failures within the ping functionality, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution on the affected system. This represents a significant security weakness in enterprise communication equipment that could be leveraged by threat actors to gain persistent access to corporate networks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization and command construction within the ping utility of the Poly Trio 8800 device. When an authenticated user sends a specially crafted ping request, the device fails to properly validate or escape input parameters, allowing malicious payloads to be executed within the device's command execution context. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication credentials, which can often be obtained through social engineering, credential reuse, or other initial compromise techniques. The device's operating system likely executes these commands with elevated privileges, potentially allowing full system compromise and access to network resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise security infrastructure and network integrity. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to the device's command shell, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or use of the device as a pivot point for attacking other network systems. The Poly Trio 8800 devices are commonly deployed in corporate environments where they serve as critical communication endpoints, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking persistent access. The vulnerability could enable attackers to monitor network traffic, modify device configurations, or establish backdoors for continued access. This aligns with ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as the exploitation requires legitimate authentication but results in unauthorized system control.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from Poly to address the vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and monitoring for suspicious ping command usage. Access controls should be strengthened with multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for unusual ping command patterns or parameter sequences that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of securing all network-connected devices, including those in the unified communications and collaboration space, as these endpoints often serve as entry points for broader network attacks. Regular security assessments of telephony and video conferencing infrastructure are essential to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that could compromise enterprise security posture.