VoIP Monitoring Software’s Critical Security Flaws Discovered

There’s no question that VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is revolutionizing how businesses communicate, but there are growing pains like all new technologies. One of the significant issues with VoIP is that it can be challenging to detect and diagnose problems. That’s where VoIP monitoring comes in.

VoIP monitoring is the process of keeping track of voice traffic and identifying issues with call quality. VoIPmonitor is a popular monitoring software that allows users to listen to and record VoIP calls. It includes call analysis, quality measurement, and media analysis features. A PENETRATION-TESTING & vulnerability research firm, Kerbit, detected new vulnerabilities in VoIPmonitoring, and issued a warning about the flaws and how hackers could exploit the scenario.

What is VoIPmonitor?

VoIPmonitor is an open-source network packet sniffer for SIP RTP and RTCP VoIP protocols that runs on Linux and allows users to monitor and troubleshoot conversation quality and decode, play, and archive calls in a CDR database.

The software involves the measurement of jitter, latency, and packet loss, all of which impact the quality of a VoIP call. Simply described, it’s the monitoring of VoIP conversations’ quality of service (QoS), which includes both fault and performance management. Monitoring metrics from the source to the destination and vice versa and the mean opinion score (MOS) and round trip time (RTT) will ensure that everything is under control throughout the communication and connection.

What are the flaws identified by Kerbit?

Kerbit detected three vulnerabilities, which are listed below:

• CVE-2022-24259 (CVSS score: 9.8) – An authentication bypass problem in the GUI’s “cdr.php” component allows an unauthenticated attacker to elevate privileges via an exceptionally crafted request.
• CVE-2022-24260 (CVSS score: 9.8) – An SQL injection vulnerability exists in the GUI’s “api.php” and “utilities.php” components, allowing attackers to elevate privileges to administrator and retrieve sensitive data.
• CVE-2022-24262 (CVSS score 7.8) – A remote command execution via the GUI’s configuration restore capabilities due to a missing check for archive file types, which allows a bad actor to execute arbitrary instructions via a forged file.

The vulnerability allows users to upload any file extension they want and can get them to run, essentially giving hackers admin privileges. The flaws could have been used to crash applications, but bulk-uploading extensions and overwhelming the network.

Unauthenticated attackers could elevate privileges to the administrator level and execute arbitrary commands if critical security vulnerabilities in VoIPmonitor software are successfully exploited.

Other Types of VOIP Attacks?

VoIP technology is just as reliable and secure as a traditional telephone, if not more so than a cellular connection. Every network must be appropriately set up and fortified to be completely hacker-proof.

Most VoIP cyber assaults are caused by administrators failing to implement adequate security measures, resulting in VoIP security attacks and, in particular, SIP hacking. SIP servers, after all, are at the heart of both internal IP telephony and commercial services, as seen in the diagram:

It’s vital to keep your SIP servers safe. The following are four types of SIP-based VoIP hacks that have gained popularity in the telecom business in recent years:

1. SIP Amplification Attack – DDoS
   As this protocol has become widely employed in VoIP systems, SIP hacking remains one of the most prevalent security concerns in the telecom space. The following is a typical scenario for a SIP amplification attack:
   A hacker uses DDoS to launch a mass application layer attack on the SIP protocol to disrupt it. For example, an attacker might compromise SIP servers and send many (10+) faults to the victim, allowing them to send IP Spoofed packets and repeated Responses.
2. SIP Trust Relationships Hack
   SIP gateways rely on SIP Trunks for call initiation and CDR/invoice management, making them easy targets for VoIP attacks. SIP trunks frequently lack passwords or employ IP-based filters for trunk authentication. Most SIP trunks also have Direct INVITE privilege without REGISTER, making them vulnerable to assaults.
3. SIP Authentication Hack

SIP 2.0 uses the MD5 message-digest technique to hash the UAC password to offer extra security to VoIP networks.
The issue with such an authentication method is that it isn’t completely safe. When UAC requests authentication from a UAS, the latter generates and sends a digest challenge to the UAC. The most basic authentication challenge consists of the following:

• a Realm – required to identify credentials within a SIP message.
• a Nonce – a unique MD5 string produced by the UAC for each registration request; A Nonce has a timestamp and a secret, a non-reusable phrase that ensures it has a finite lifespan.

On the other hand, Hashed passwords are no longer sufficient to defend VoIP systems from sophisticated authentication assaults. With a Network Analyzer or a brute-force attack, hackers may now crack MD5 cash and gain access to a SIP authentication header.

4. Creating a Fake Caller ID/ Spoofing

In SIP, caller ID isn’t adequately protected, and hackers have lots of tools for spoofing the SIP INVITE Request Message from the header. This is a prevalent method of voice fraud used to attack PBX systems. As a result, you must also protect that endpoint to avoid roaming fraud or call hijacking.

What can we do?

By including VoIP in your portfolio, you may improve your commercial offering by having IP-based voice features that bring value to both data and video. It also allows you to compete with over-the-top (OTT) service providers who cannot guarantee service quality (QoS). After all, quality and security are the fundamental differentials that customers are most likely to notice regarding voice service. Delivering faultless VoIP call quality involves real-time customer experience management, including total visibility of the traffic running through your IP network.

The VoIP monitoring market is heating up as businesses search for the right solution that fits their needs. Companies are always concerned about security when giving their staff or contractors unfettered access to internet and phone services in remote environments because of the inherent risk of not being in a secure network. However, many remote users still want access to secure phone and internet lines to stay connected without worrying about data costs.

Protected Phones by Protected Harbor is a cloud-based unified VoIP solution that provides businesses with the security and flexibility they need to enable remote work and 24×7 live support with a dedicated system. To learn more about our solution and how we can partner with you, please visit our website or contact us today.

How Secure Are VoIP Calls?

VOIP is a top-rated phone service because it offers many perks over traditional landlines. They’re generally cheaper and more convenient, but are they really any more secure? You should know a few things about VOIP security before making the switch.

VoIP is great for small businesses. Its advanced features allow small businesses to compete with the big boys in customer service. VoIP has many features that will enable your staff to stay connected to your customers in various ways, including missed call texting and automatic call distribution. These features are ideal for any business, especially those that travel frequently. But how safe is your business from hackers when you commit yourself to VoIP?

Why Should Businesses use VOIP?

To keep your VoIP communication secure, you’ll need to protect it from hackers. These hackers can steal confidential information from your network, including customer and employee information. They can also use this information against you – blackmailing you or selling it to your competitors. The same is true for the internet. In addition to these issues, you should also make sure that your VoIP service provider encrypts all your data with SSL.

For starters, VoIP eliminates long-distance charges from your communication bill. Because VoIP uses the Internet, you won’t pay extra to call long-distance. Just like your ISP won’t charge you for visiting websites from around the world. Compared to the traditional circuit-switched telephone network, VoIP calls are 60 percent cheaper. International calls are 90 percent cheaper. And with fewer phone lines, your company’s infrastructure can also grow. This makes VoIP the best choice for businesses in a growing economy. In addition to lower costs, it’s easier to manage. You can set up and operate your phone network with a single service without hassles.

Because VoIP allows you to work from any device, your staff can use the same number from anywhere in the world. The same software is used in call centers so that telecommuting employees can work from their home computers. Employees can use their phones in the office or on the road. If you need to reach a large group of people, VoIP is a great option. You can even use VoIP for a small team, and you won’t have to worry about the quality of the call. With the flexibility that VoIP gives you, your staff will work more efficiently.

Furthermore, they can make important business calls from anywhere. Your mobile devices can connect to your VoIP provider over a hotspot with VoIP. This means you can stay connected even when you’re out and about. It’s one of the best ways to save money. It’s also easy to manage.

How secure is VoIP?

As businesses embrace cost-saving VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, they must also address its limitations. Suppose you’re working with sensitive information, such as private client data or intellectual property. In that case, you need to know that the method of communication you choose will protect your data and keep it private.

The security of a VoIP call depends on the network it’s travelling over. The two most prominent protocols in use today are SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and H.323. But, as always, the devil is in the details. To signal and govern interactive communication sessions, the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is employed. Voice, video, chat, instant messaging, interactive games, and virtual reality are possibilities for such interactions. H.323 is an ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) guideline that specifies protocols for audio-visual (A/V) communication sessions across all packet networks.

Is VOIP Cyber-secure?

First of all, it’s essential to consider the source of your VoIP. Are you using a public WiFi connection? If so, it’s possible that hackers could hack into your network. And if you’re using a secure office connection, your data could be compromised. You should also check whether the provider’s IT infrastructure is protected against different types of network attacks. Ultimately, the answer to that question will affect the security of your calls.

Another way to increase your VoIP security is to keep your VoIP network updated. Most VoIP phones offer a default password for their users. You’ll want to change this to something more complex. For instance, you should set a password at least ten characters long. You can also add extra security measures like firewalls and VPNs to your VoIP network. These steps will significantly improve the security of your network. Just check for updates and make sure they’re running the latest versions of this software.

VoIP Encryption

Voice encryption is an important and necessary measure. It prevents hacker access to your call information and encrypts the content of your call. Advanced encryption is also used to protect your call information from hackers. SRTP is a protocol that applies the Advanced Encryption Standard to data packets. It offers message authentication and additional protection against replay attacks. (For more information, visit https://securevoipcalls.org)

SRTP (Secure Real-time Transport Protocol) is a security protocol that protects the contents of voice calls. It is an important security measure, as SRTP adds message authentication to protect sensitive company data. Moreover, if your employees steal confidential company data, a phreaking attack can be a significant security risk. Encrypting and adding layers of security is the only option. Therefore partnering with a VoIP service provider could be a viable option.

You might think that VOIP calls are not secure and could be intercepted by a third party listening to what you are saying. However, encryption is often used to protect data as it travels on the internet, including VOIP services such as Skype and FaceTime. While encryption cannot guarantee that no one will listen in, it will make it much harder without some very sophisticated equipment and software. The most common protection is through 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption. This is used by Apple, Microsoft, and some other tech giants.

Conclusion

VoIP has proved some high-level security features leaving many to believe that it can be safe for business discussions and non-sensitive conversations. However, this is not always the case. Improperly using your phone can allow eavesdroppers to listen in on your conversation. Suppose you would like to remain secure while using VOIP, but if you want the value of VOIP and are still unsure about the security, there are always extra steps you can take to increase safety, connectivity, and reliability.

All VOIP providers will create a unified VoIP solution that is easy to use at a lower cost than traditional business phone systems. Next-level providers know how to take it a step further. Ensure your business VoIP service is connected throughout your business phone, video conferencing, employee cell phones, customer service chats, and your employee’s remote workstations. Additionally, these providers offer accurate managed phone services, including advanced technology and cybersecurity solutions.

For instance, at Protected Harbor, we give each client a dedicated VoIP phone system and their VoIP server within our data center that we own. They are managed, programmed, and monitored by Protected Harbor full-time engineers allowing us to avoid outages before they happen and instantly modify systems and setting for optimal use.

Protected phones by Protected Harbor is one of the best unified VoIP solutions providers. High-quality, low price, and easy-to-use services have made it incredibly popular among consumers. But that’s not it; features like Live 24×7 support, dedicated remote system, highly configurable, and SIP forking make it the ultimate choice over the VoIP providers. Experience the quality yourself; book a call now.