CVE-2008-6574 in Communication Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in SIP Enablement Services (SES) in Avaya Communication Manager 3.1.x and 4.x allows remote attackers to gain privileges and cause a denial of service via unknown vectors related to reuse of valid credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6574 represents a critical security flaw within Avaya Communication Manager's SIP Enablement Services component, specifically affecting versions 3.1.x and 4.x. This unspecified vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Avaya's communication infrastructure, as it enables remote attackers to escalate privileges and disrupt service availability through the exploitation of credential reuse mechanisms. The flaw resides in the session management and authentication processes that govern how valid credentials are handled within the SIP communication framework, potentially allowing unauthorized access to privileged system functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the reuse of valid credentials within the SIP Enablement Services environment, creating a pathway for attackers to escalate their privileges beyond the initial authenticated state. This credential reuse vulnerability falls under the broader category of authentication bypass mechanisms and can be categorized as a weakness in the authorization process according to CWE classification. The attack vector involves leveraging existing valid session tokens or credentials to perform unauthorized operations that should require elevated privileges, effectively circumventing the normal access control mechanisms that protect critical system functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple security concerns that extend beyond simple privilege escalation. The ability to cause denial of service represents a particularly dangerous aspect of this flaw, as attackers can potentially disrupt critical communication services that organizations depend upon for business operations. The combination of privilege escalation and denial of service capabilities means that an attacker could not only gain unauthorized access to sensitive system functions but also render the communication infrastructure unavailable to legitimate users. This dual impact significantly increases the risk profile of the vulnerability and can result in substantial business disruption and potential financial losses.
The security implications of CVE-2008-6574 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the T1078 credential reuse and T1499 network denial of service tactics. Organizations should implement comprehensive network segmentation to isolate critical communication infrastructure and deploy robust monitoring solutions to detect anomalous credential usage patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper session management and credential lifecycle management practices, as well as the necessity for regular security assessments of communication systems. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems, implementation of strict access controls, and enhanced authentication mechanisms that prevent credential reuse in potentially dangerous contexts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically designed to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns and session management anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts of this type of vulnerability.