CVE-2019-1872 in TelePresence Video Communication Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) and Cisco Expressway Series software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause an affected system to send arbitrary network requests. The vulnerability is due to improper restrictions on network services in the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious requests to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to send arbitrary network requests sourced from the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1872 affects Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) and Cisco Expressway Series software, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of network communications. This weakness resides in the improper restrictions governing network services within these telepresence systems, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise the affected infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms and network request handling capabilities of these video communication platforms, which are widely deployed in enterprise environments for secure video conferencing and collaboration services.
The technical flaw manifests through inadequate validation of incoming network requests and insufficient access controls within the affected software components. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting and sending malicious requests to the targeted system without requiring any authentication credentials or privileged access. This unauthenticated exploitation capability significantly lowers the barrier for attackers to compromise the affected infrastructure. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate the affected system into initiating arbitrary network requests that appear to originate from the compromised device itself, effectively enabling the attacker to leverage the legitimate system as a proxy for malicious activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1872 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be weaponized for various malicious purposes. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can use the compromised system to launch further attacks against internal network resources, potentially escalating privileges and expanding their attack surface. The ability to send arbitrary network requests sourced from the affected system enables attackers to perform reconnaissance activities, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish command and control channels. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in significant disruption to business continuity and security operations within organizations that rely on these telepresence systems for critical communications.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, firewall rule configurations, and access control restrictions to limit exposure of affected systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Organizations should deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity originating from affected devices and consider implementing network traffic analysis to identify anomalous request patterns. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify additional weaknesses in the network infrastructure. The affected Cisco software versions require immediate patching and updates to remediate this vulnerability, as the exploitation capabilities provide attackers with a persistent foothold for further compromise of enterprise networks.