CVE-2008-0026 in Unified CallManager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Cisco Unified CallManager/Communications Manager (CUCM) 5.0/5.1 before 5.1(3a) and 6.0/6.1 before 6.1(1a) allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the key parameter to the (1) admin and (2) user interface pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0026 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Cisco Unified CallManager and Communications Manager versions 5.0 and 5.1 prior to 5.1(3a), as well as versions 6.0 and 6.1 before 6.1(1a). This vulnerability specifically affects the administrative and user interface components of the system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The flaw resides in how the system processes the key parameter within these interface pages, allowing authenticated users to inject malicious SQL commands that can be executed within the database context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the web interface components of Cisco Unified Communications Manager. When authenticated users submit requests containing maliciously crafted key parameters to the admin and user interface pages, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into SQL query construction. This allows attackers to manipulate the intended database operations and potentially execute arbitrary SQL commands. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive telephony data, modify user accounts, escalate privileges, and potentially compromise the entire communication infrastructure. Attackers could extract confidential information including user credentials, phone configurations, and communication logs that are typically stored within the database. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for persistent access and data exfiltration, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to establish backdoors or maintain long-term presence within the network. This represents a significant risk to enterprise communication systems where call manager functionality is critical to business operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Cisco's official security patches, specifically versions 5.1(3a) for 5.0/5.1 systems and 6.1(1a) for 6.0/6.1 systems. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect suspicious authentication patterns and parameter manipulation attempts. Security teams should implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and enforce strict access controls for privileged accounts. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other systems and applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a technique commonly categorized under ATT&CK matrix tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) and technique T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) as it enables unauthorized database access and information extraction.