Cisco Security Advisory
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Tandberg C Series Endpoints and E/EX Personal Video units that are running software versions prior to TC4.0.0 ship with a root administrator account that is enabled by default with no password. An attacker could use this account in order to modify the application configuration or operating system settings.
Resolving this default password issue does not require a software upgrade and can be changed or disabled by a configuration command for all affected customers. The workaround detailed in this document demonstrates how to disable the root account or change the password.
This advisory is posted at https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20110202-tandberg.
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Vulnerable Products
This vulnerability affects Tandberg C Series Endpoints and E/EX Personal Video units, including software that is running on the C20, C40, C60, C90, E20, EX60, and EX90 codecs. The software version of the Tandberg unit can be determined by logging into the web-based user interface (UI) or using the "xStatus SystemUnit" command.
Users can determine the Tandberg software version by entering the IP address of the codec in a web browser, authenticating (if the device is configured for authentication), and then selecting the "system info" menu option. The version number is displayed after the "Software Version" label in the System Info box.
Alternatively the software version can be determined from the device's application programmer interface using the "xStatus SystemUnit" command. The software version running on the codec is displayed after the "SystemUnit Software Version" label. The output from "xStatus SystemUnit" will display a result similar to the following:
xStatus SystemUnit *s SystemUnit ProductType: "Cisco TelePresence Codec" *s SystemUnit ProductId: "Cisco TelePresence Codec C90" *s SystemUnit ProductPlatform: "C90" *s SystemUnit Uptime: 597095 *s SystemUnit Software Application: "Endpoint" *s SystemUnit Software Version: "TC4.0" *s SystemUnit Software Name: "s52000" *s SystemUnit Software ReleaseDate: "2010-11-01" *s SystemUnit Software MaxVideoCalls: 3 *s SystemUnit Software MaxAudioCalls: 4 *s SystemUnit Software ReleaseKey: "true" *s SystemUnit Software OptionKeys NaturalPresenter: "true" *s SystemUnit Software OptionKeys MultiSite: "true" *s SystemUnit Software OptionKeys PremiumResolution: "true" *s SystemUnit Hardware Module SerialNumber: "B1AD25A00003" *s SystemUnit Hardware Module Identifier: "0" *s SystemUnit Hardware MainBoard SerialNumber: "PH0497201" *s SystemUnit Hardware MainBoard Identifier: "101401-3 [04]" *s SystemUnit Hardware VideoBoard SerialNumber: "PH0497874" *s SystemUnit Hardware VideoBoard Identifier: "101560-1 [02]" *s SystemUnit Hardware AudioBoard SerialNumber: "N/A" *s SystemUnit Hardware AudioBoard Identifier: "" *s SystemUnit Hardware BootSoftware: "U-Boot 2009.03-65" *s SystemUnit State System: Initialized *s SystemUnit State MaxNumberOfCalls: 3 *s SystemUnit State MaxNumberOfActiveCalls: 3 *s SystemUnit State NumberOfActiveCalls: 1 *s SystemUnit State NumberOfSuspendedCalls: 0 *s SystemUnit State NumberOfInProgressCalls: 0 *s SystemUnit State Subsystem Application: Initialized *s SystemUnit ContactInfo: "helpdesk@company.com" ** end
Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable
No other Cisco products are currently known to be affected by these vulnerabilities.
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Tandberg devices are part of the Cisco TelePresence Systems that provide Cisco TelePresence endpoints for immersive environments, conference rooms, individual desktops and home offices. The C Series Endpoints are typically deployed as Multipurpose Room Systems and the E/EX Personal Video units are desktop devices.
These devices contain a root user that is enabled for advanced debugging that is unnecessary during normal operations. The root account is not the same as the admin and user accounts. The root user is enabled by default in software versions prior to TC 4.0.0. The default configuration prior to TC 4.0.0 does not set a password for the root user.
When a device is upgraded to TC 4.0.0, the root user is disabled. System software for Tandberg C Series Endpoints and E/EX Personal Video units is available for download at: http://www.tandberg.com/support/video-conferencing-software-download.jsp?t=2
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For instructions on how to set a root password or disable the root user on
other software versions, see the workaround section of this advisory.This vulnerability has been assigned the CVE ID CVE-2011-0354.
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The root user is disabled in the default configuration starting in the TC4.0.0 software version. To disable the root account, an administrator should log in to the applications programmer interface and use the command "systemtools rootsettings off" to temporarily disable the account, or the command "systemtools rootsettings never" to permanently disable the root user.
The root user is enabled for advanced debugging. If the root user is needed, the password should be configured when the account is enabled. This can be done through the command "systemtools rootsettings on [password]".
Devices running software version TC 4.0.0 or later
The root user is disabled in the default configuration starting in the TC4.0.0 software version. To disable the root account, an administrator should log in to the applications programmer interface and use the command "systemtools rootsettings off" to temporarily disable the account, or the command "systemtools rootsettings never" to permanently disable the root user.
The root user is enabled for advanced debugging. If the root user is needed, the password should be configured when the account is enabled. This can be done through the command "systemtools rootsettings on [password]".
The default configuration of devices running TC4.0.0 does not contain a password for the administrator account. The password for the administrator account should be set with the command "xCommand SystemUnit AdminPassword Set Password: [password].
Devices running software versions prior to TC 4.0.0
The root user cannot be disabled on devices running software versions prior to TC4.0.0. The password for the root account is the same as the administrator password. The administrator password is set with the command "xCommand SystemUnit AdminPassword Set Password: [password]".
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When considering software upgrades, also consult http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt and any subsequent advisories to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution.
In all cases, customers should exercise caution to be certain the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or your contracted maintenance provider for assistance.
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This vulnerability has been discussed in the article "Hacking and Securing the Tandberg C20" published in Volume 27, Number 3 of the 2600 Magazine.
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To learn about Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy. This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.
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