CVE-2002-1190 in Unity Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Unity 2.x and 3.x uses well-known default user accounts, which could allow remote attackers to gain access and place arbitrary calls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2019
Cisco Unity 2.x and 3.x systems contain a critical security vulnerability that stems from the implementation of default user accounts with predictable credentials. This weakness represents a fundamental flaw in the system's authentication mechanism and aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications. The vulnerability exists because the software ships with pre-configured user accounts that have well-known usernames and passwords, creating an inherent security risk that persists across multiple versions of the platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote access methods that allow attackers to authenticate using these default credentials without requiring additional reconnaissance or credential cracking efforts. This flaw enables unauthorized individuals to gain administrative access to the Cisco Unity system, which serves as a unified messaging platform integrating voice mail, fax, and email services. Once authenticated, attackers can leverage these privileges to place arbitrary calls through the system, potentially leading to significant financial losses through toll fraud and unauthorized communication services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the messaging infrastructure and potentially disrupt business communications. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cisco Unity for their unified communications, making it particularly dangerous for enterprises with extensive voice messaging systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct unauthorized calls, potentially resulting in substantial financial losses through fraudulent toll charges and may also use the system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
This vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in secure configuration management and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which addresses valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including changing all default credentials, disabling unnecessary accounts, and implementing robust access controls. The recommended mitigation strategy involves conducting comprehensive security audits of all Cisco Unity installations, enforcing strong password policies, and ensuring that default accounts are either disabled or have non-default credentials. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts and prevent exploitation of this known vulnerability that has been documented since 2002.