Description
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business SPA300 Series IP Phones and Cisco Small Business SPA500 Series IP Phones could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges. These vulnerabilities exist because incoming HTTP packets are not properly checked for errors, which could result in a buffer overflow. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to overflow an internal buffer and execute arbitrary commands at the root privilege level.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2024-18165
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
The vulnerability described in EUVD-2024-18165 affects the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business SPA300 Series IP Phones and Cisco Small Business SPA500 Series IP Phones. The issue arises from improper error checking of incoming HTTP packets, leading to a buffer overflow. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root privileges.
Severity Evaluation:
- CVSS Base Score: 9.8
- CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
The high CVSS score indicates a critical vulnerability due to the following factors:
- Attack Vector (AV:N): The vulnerability can be exploited over the network.
- Attack Complexity (AC:L): The attack requires low complexity.
- Privileges Required (PR:N): No privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability.
- User Interaction (UI:N): No user interaction is required.
- Scope (S:U): The vulnerability does not change the security scope.
- Confidentiality (C:H), Integrity (I:H), Availability (A:H): All three security properties are highly impacted.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
Attack Vectors:
- Remote Exploitation: An attacker can send crafted HTTP requests to the affected device over the network.
- Unauthenticated Access: The attacker does not need any credentials to exploit the vulnerability.
Exploitation Methods:
- Buffer Overflow: By sending specially crafted HTTP packets, an attacker can cause a buffer overflow in the web-based management interface.
- Arbitrary Command Execution: The buffer overflow can be leveraged to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, allowing the attacker to take full control of the device.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Cisco Small Business IP Phones, including:
- 7.5.7, 7.5.2a, 7.4.9, 7.5.1, 7.6.2SR2, 7.3.7, 7.4.3, 7.5.2, 1.0.17, 7.5.3, 7.6.2SR1, 7.6.2SR6, 7.5.5a, 7.6.2SR7, 7.4.4, 7.5.6c, 7.6.2, 7.5.5, 7.5.7s, 7.4.7, 7.6.2SR5, 7.5.4, 7.6.2SR4, 7.5.2b, 7.5.6, 7.5.6a, 7.4.8, 7.5.6(XU), 7.6.0, 7.5.5b, 7.6.1, 7.4.6
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
Immediate Actions:
- Network Segmentation: Isolate affected devices from the public internet and restrict access to trusted networks only.
- Firewall Rules: Implement strict firewall rules to block unauthorized access to the web-based management interface.
- Monitoring: Increase monitoring of network traffic to detect any suspicious activities targeting the affected devices.
Long-Term Solutions:
- Patch Management: Apply the latest security patches and updates provided by Cisco as soon as they are available.
- Access Control: Implement strong authentication and access control mechanisms for the web-based management interface.
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and mitigate similar issues in the future.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
The vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations using the affected Cisco IP Phones, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and government, where secure communication is critical. The potential for unauthenticated remote command execution with root privileges can lead to severe data breaches, unauthorized access, and disruption of services.
Regulatory Compliance:
- Organizations must ensure compliance with relevant regulations such as GDPR, which mandates the protection of personal data.
- Failure to address this vulnerability could result in regulatory penalties and loss of customer trust.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
Vulnerability Details:
- CVE ID: CVE-2024-20450
- GSD ID: GSD-2024-20450
- Assigner: Cisco
Technical Analysis:
- Root Cause: The vulnerability stems from insufficient error checking in the handling of HTTP packets, leading to a buffer overflow.
- Exploitation: An attacker can craft HTTP requests that exceed the buffer size, causing an overflow and allowing for arbitrary command execution.
- Mitigation: Implementing proper input validation and error checking mechanisms can prevent such vulnerabilities.
References:
- Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco Security Advisory
Conclusion: This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and error handling in web-based management interfaces. Organizations should prioritize patching affected devices and implementing strong security measures to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Regular security assessments and proactive monitoring are essential to maintain a secure cyber environment.