CVE-2023-20078 in IP Phone 6800
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2023
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of certain Cisco IP Phones could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2023
Cisco IP Phones contain multiple vulnerabilities within their web-based management interface that present significant security risks to enterprise environments. These vulnerabilities affect specific models of Cisco IP phones and stem from inadequate authentication mechanisms and insufficient input validation within the web interface components. The flaws exist in the way the devices handle web requests and process user input, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system without requiring valid credentials or prior access privileges.
The technical nature of these vulnerabilities allows for remote code execution capabilities that could enable attackers to gain full control over affected devices. The lack of proper authentication checks means that an unauthenticated attacker can directly interact with the web interface and manipulate system functions through specially crafted requests. Additionally, the vulnerabilities include memory handling issues and buffer overflow conditions that can lead to denial of service scenarios where legitimate users cannot access the phone services. These weaknesses are particularly dangerous because they exist in the management interface that is often accessible from external networks or internal segments where unauthorized access should be prevented.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire communication infrastructures. Attackers could leverage these flaws to redirect phone calls, intercept communications, or even use the compromised devices as launching points for broader network attacks. The remote execution capabilities align with attack techniques documented in the mitre att&ck framework under initial access and execution phases, where attackers establish footholds within networks through web interface exploitation. Organizations may experience significant disruption to business communications and face potential regulatory compliance issues if voice communication systems are compromised.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical systems and implement strict access controls for web management interfaces. Organizations should deploy network access control lists and firewalls to restrict access to these management interfaces to authorized administrative networks only. Regular firmware updates from Cisco should be prioritized as patches address the specific authentication bypass and input validation flaws. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual web interface activity and establish network intrusion detection systems to identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerabilities demonstrate the importance of securing all network endpoints including voice communication devices, as highlighted in cwe categories related to weak authentication and input validation errors. Organizations must also consider implementing zero trust network architectures where all access requests are verified regardless of their source location within the network infrastructure.