CVE-2024-41711 in 6800
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2024
A vulnerability in the Mitel 6800 Series, 6900 Series, and 6900w Series SIP Phones, including the 6970 Conference Unit, through R6.4.0.HF1 (R6.4.0.136) could allow an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to the phone to conduct an argument injection attack, due to insufficient parameter sanitization. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands within the context of the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-41711 affects Mitel 6800 Series, 6900 Series, and 6900w Series SIP phones including the 6970 Conference Unit with firmware versions up to R6.4.0.HF1. This represents a critical security flaw that arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the phone's command processing subsystem. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an attacker with physical access to the device attempts to inject malicious arguments into system commands through improperly sanitized parameters. Such a flaw constitutes a direct violation of secure coding principles and represents a classic example of command injection vulnerability as classified under CWE-77. The attack vector requires physical access to the device which reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the severity of potential impact.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through argument injection attacks that bypass the phone's parameter sanitization mechanisms. When legitimate system commands are processed, the device fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied arguments that are passed to underlying system functions. This allows an attacker to append malicious arguments to legitimate commands, effectively executing arbitrary code within the phone's system context. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the phone's input handling architecture where insufficient sanitization permits attackers to manipulate command execution flows. The system's failure to properly validate command arguments creates a pathway for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The lack of proper input validation represents a critical failure in the principle of least privilege and input sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker with physical access could potentially gain full system control over the affected phones, allowing for complete compromise of the device's functionality. This includes the ability to modify phone configurations, access stored credentials, intercept communications, and potentially use the compromised devices as entry points for broader network attacks. The compromised phones could serve as persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure, particularly in enterprise environments where phone systems are integrated with corporate networks. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity and confidentiality of communications, as the attacker could potentially monitor or manipulate voice and data traffic passing through these devices. The attack could also facilitate lateral movement within the network if the phones are connected to internal systems, representing a significant risk to overall network security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-41711 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Mitel to address the root cause of the parameter sanitization failure. Organizations should implement strict physical access controls to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to the affected devices, as this vulnerability requires physical presence to exploit. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of network access controls and firewall rules can help limit the potential impact if a device is compromised. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their infrastructure and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and sanitization practices in embedded systems, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-171 and ISO 27001 standards for secure system development and operation.