CVE-2019-1878 : Security Advisory and Response

Cisco TelePresence Endpoint Command Shell Injection Vulnerability was published on June 19, 2019, by Cisco. The vulnerability affects Cisco TelePresence TC Software versions below 9.7.1, allowing attackers to inject shell commands into the device.

Understanding CVE-2019-1878

This CVE discloses a flaw in the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) implementation for Cisco TelePresence Codec (TC) and Collaboration Endpoint (CE) Software.

What is CVE-2019-1878?

The vulnerability enables an unauthenticated attacker in close proximity to the affected device to inject shell commands by sending specially crafted CDP packets, potentially leading to the execution of arbitrary shell commands or scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1878

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the compromised device.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1878

The technical aspects of the vulnerability provide insights into its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient validation of received CDP packets in Cisco TelePresence TC Software versions below 9.7.1 allows attackers to inject arbitrary shell commands, leading to unauthorized execution on the device.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco TelePresence TC Software
Vendor: Cisco
Versions Affected: Less than 9.7.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the lack of proper validation of CDP packets by sending crafted packets to the targeted device, gaining the ability to execute unauthorized shell commands or scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Mitigation strategies and preventive measures are crucial to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-1878.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates promptly to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities or CDP packet anomalies.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate users and administrators on best practices for network security and device hardening.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security advisories and updates from Cisco to ensure the latest patches are applied to mitigate known vulnerabilities.