CVE-2019-15967 in TelePresence Collaboration Endpoint
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco TelePresence Collaboration Endpoint (CE) and Cisco RoomOS Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to enable audio recording without notifying users. The vulnerability is due to the presence of unnecessary debug commands. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by gaining unrestricted access to the restricted shell and using the specific debug commands. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to enable the microphone of an affected device to record audio without notifying users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15967 resides within the command line interface of Cisco TelePresence Collaboration Endpoint devices and Cisco RoomOS software implementations. This security flaw represents a critical oversight in the design of privileged access controls, where debug commands that should have been removed or properly restricted remain accessible to authenticated local users. The presence of these unnecessary debug commands creates an exploitable pathway that undermines the fundamental security principles of least privilege and principle of least functionality. These devices are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where audio and video communications are critical for business operations, making them attractive targets for malicious actors who seek to compromise communication integrity and user privacy.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the restricted shell environment, which should normally limit access to administrative functions and debug capabilities. An authenticated local attacker who gains unrestricted access to this shell can execute specific debug commands that directly control the microphone functionality of the device. This flaw falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where insufficient controls allow unauthorized access to privileged functions. The debug commands in question are designed for development and troubleshooting purposes but have been improperly deployed in production environments without proper access restrictions, creating a persistent backdoor for malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass broader security implications for enterprise communication systems. When an attacker can enable audio recording without user notification, they effectively gain covert surveillance capabilities that can be used for espionage, corporate espionage, or personal privacy violations. The vulnerability specifically targets the microphone functionality, which means that any audio conversations occurring in the vicinity of these devices could be recorded without consent. This represents a significant breach of user trust and could lead to legal and regulatory consequences under privacy laws such as GDPR, CCPA, and other data protection frameworks. The lack of user notification for recording activities violates fundamental principles of informed consent and transparent operation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates provided by Cisco, which typically include the removal or proper restriction of debug commands. Network administrators must ensure that all affected devices receive timely security patches and that access controls are properly configured to limit shell access to authorized personnel only. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that only necessary users have access to administrative functions and debug capabilities. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized shell usage, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of privilege escalation and persistence. Regular security audits should verify that debug functionality is properly disabled in production environments, and that proper access logging is maintained to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised devices and establish clear protocols for handling security incidents involving communication equipment.