CVE-2007-5468 in CallManager
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco CallManager 5.1.1.3000-5 does not verify the Digest authentication header URI against the Request URI in SIP messages, which allows remote attackers to use sniffed Digest authentication credentials to call arbitrary telephone numbers or spoof caller ID (aka "toll fraud and authentication forward attack").
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2019
Cisco CallManager version 5.1.1.3000-5 contains a critical authentication vulnerability that stems from improper validation of SIP Digest authentication headers. This flaw exists within the session initiation protocol implementation where the system fails to verify that the URI specified in the Digest authentication header matches the actual Request URI present in the SIP message. The vulnerability resides in the authentication processing logic that should enforce strict URI correlation to prevent credential reuse attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to perform a form of authentication forward attack by capturing legitimate Digest authentication credentials through network sniffing or packet interception. Once obtained, these credentials can be reused against different URI targets within the SIP communication framework because the system does not validate the URI consistency between authentication header and request URI. This weakness enables unauthorized users to impersonate legitimate callers and execute malicious SIP transactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risk for telecommunications infrastructure and organizations relying on Cisco CallManager for voice communication services. Attackers can leverage this flaw to commit toll fraud by making unauthorized long-distance calls to premium rate numbers or international destinations using stolen authentication tokens. Additionally, the ability to spoof caller ID information allows for social engineering attacks and potential data exfiltration through voice-based communication channels. The vulnerability affects the fundamental integrity of the authentication system and compromises the trust model of the SIP communication framework.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in authentication mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through network sniffing and T1589 for network defense evasion through authentication manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate voice infrastructure, deployment of encrypted SIP communications using TLS, and regular monitoring of authentication header inconsistencies. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Cisco CallManager, implementing strict URI validation policies, and deploying additional authentication layers to prevent credential replay attacks. Network administrators should also configure intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication header patterns and establish automated alerting for unauthorized URI mismatches in SIP communications.