CVE-2017-6648 : Security Advisory and Response

A weakness has been discovered in the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) of the Cisco TelePresence Codec (TC) and Collaboration Endpoint (CE) Software, potentially enabling an unauthorized attacker to cause a TelePresence endpoint to unexpectedly reload, leading to a denial of service (DoS) situation. This vulnerability affects Cisco TC and CE platforms running software versions earlier than TC 7.3.8 and CE 8.3.0.

Understanding CVE-2017-6648

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the SIP of Cisco TelePresence Codec and Collaboration Endpoint Software, allowing attackers to trigger a DoS condition.

What is CVE-2017-6648?

The vulnerability in SIP of Cisco TelePresence Codec and Collaboration Endpoint Software could lead to a DoS situation by causing a TelePresence endpoint to reload unexpectedly.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6648

Unauthorized attackers can exploit the vulnerability to disrupt services and data on the affected device.
The lack of flow-control mechanisms in the software is responsible for this vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6648

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Attackers can flood the affected device with SIP INVITE packets to exploit the vulnerability.
Successful exploitation can lead to a complete DoS condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco TC and CE platforms running software versions earlier than TC 7.3.8 and CE 8.3.0 are vulnerable.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is due to the absence of flow-control mechanisms in the software.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2017-6648 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected devices to software versions TC 7.3.8 and CE 8.3.0 or later.
Implement network-level controls to mitigate SIP flooding attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability.