CVE-2019-1716 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Software for Cisco IP Phone 7800 Series and Cisco IP Phone 8800 Series could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or execute arbitrary code. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied input during the authentication process.

Understanding CVE-2019-1716

This CVE involves a remote code execution vulnerability in Cisco IP Phone 7800 Series and 8800 Series.

What is CVE-2019-1716?

The vulnerability allows an attacker to disrupt services or execute unauthorized code without authentication, by exploiting the software's validation weaknesses during the authentication process.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1716

CVSS Base Score: 7.5 (High)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Availability Impact: High
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality & Integrity Impact: None

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1716

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows an attacker to disrupt services or execute unauthorized code by exploiting the software's inadequate validation of user-supplied input during the authentication process.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco Unified IP Conference Phone 8831: Less than 10.3(1)SR5
Cisco Wireless IP Phone 8821 and 8821-EX: Less than 11.0(4)SR3
Cisco IP Phone 7800 Series and 8800 Series: Less than 12.5(1)SR1

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs to connect to a vulnerable device via HTTP and supply malicious user credentials, potentially causing a denial of service or executing arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent exploitation of CVE-2019-1716.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the relevant patches provided by Cisco for the affected software versions.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Restrict access to vulnerable devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the following SIP Software versions are applied:

Cisco Unified IP Conference Phone 8831: 10.3(1)SR5 and later
Cisco Wireless IP Phone 8821 and 8821-EX: 11.0(4)SR3 and later
Cisco IP Phone 7800 Series and 8800 Series: 12.5(1)SR1 and later