CVE-2024-31965 is a vulnerability discovered in Mitel 6800 Series and 6900 Series SIP Phones (up to version 6.3 SP3 HF4), 6900w Series SIP Phones (up to version 6.3.3), and the 6970 Conference Unit (up to version 5.1.1 SP8). The flaw arises from insufficient input validation in the handling of file paths, which allows an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges to perform a path traversal attack. This type of attack enables the attacker to navigate the device's file system beyond intended directories, potentially accessing sensitive files or configuration data that should be protected. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 (Path Traversal) and CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), indicating a failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input. Exploitation requires the attacker to have high-level privileges and remote access to the device's administrative interface, with no user interaction needed. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.2, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the confidentiality impact, as the attacker can read sensitive information but cannot modify data or disrupt device availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the presence of this vulnerability in widely deployed enterprise telephony hardware poses a risk if attackers gain administrative access through other means. The vulnerability was published on May 2, 2024, and remains unpatched as no official patch links are currently available.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-31965 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored on Mitel SIP phones and conference units. This could include configuration files, credentials, call logs, or other sensitive data that could facilitate further attacks or espionage. Since the vulnerability requires administrative privileges, the risk is somewhat mitigated by the need for prior compromise or insider threat. However, in environments where administrative credentials are weak, reused, or exposed, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their access and extract confidential information. The lack of impact on integrity or availability means the devices continue to function normally, potentially allowing stealthy data exfiltration. Organizations relying on these Mitel devices for voice communications, especially in sectors like government, finance, healthcare, and large enterprises, could face data breaches or compliance violations if exploited. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits after vulnerability disclosure. Overall, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk to confidentiality and organizational security posture.

To mitigate CVE-2024-31965, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict administrative access to Mitel devices using network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access only to trusted management networks or VPNs. 2) Enforce strong, unique administrative credentials and consider multi-factor authentication if supported to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3) Monitor device logs and network traffic for unusual access patterns or attempts to access unauthorized file paths. 4) Regularly audit and rotate administrative credentials to minimize insider threat risks. 5) Engage with Mitel support or authorized vendors to obtain patches or firmware updates as soon as they become available, and apply them promptly. 6) If patches are delayed, consider temporary compensating controls such as disabling unnecessary services or interfaces that expose administrative functions. 7) Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability to ensure rapid detection and response to any suspicious activity. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and proactive patch management specific to the affected Mitel devices.