CVE-2011-3315 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) 5.x and 6.x before 6.1(5)SU2, 7.x before 7.1(5b)SU2, and 8.x before 8.0(3), and Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (aka Unified CCX or UCCX) and Cisco Unified IP Interactive Voice Response (Unified IP-IVR) before 6.0(1)SR1ES8, 7.0(x) before 7.0(2)ES1, 8.0(x) through 8.0(2)SU3, and 8.5(x) before 8.5(1)SU2, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a crafted URL, aka Bug IDs CSCth09343 and CSCts44049.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-3315 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting multiple Cisco Unified Communications platforms including Cisco Unified Communications Manager and related contact center solutions. This weakness enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on affected systems through carefully crafted URL requests, potentially exposing sensitive system information and compromising the overall security posture of enterprise communication infrastructures. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of versions across multiple product lines, making it particularly concerning for organizations maintaining legacy communication systems. The flaw specifically affects Cisco Unified Communications Manager versions 5.x and 6.x before 6.1(5)SU2, 7.x before 7.1(5b)SU2, and 8.x before 8.0(3), alongside Cisco Unified Contact Center Express and Unified IP Interactive Voice Response systems with affected releases spanning from version 6.0(1)SR1ES8 through 8.5(1)SU2.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web-based management interfaces of affected Cisco products. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain directory traversal sequences such as "../" or "..\" to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files outside of the web root. This allows unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, log data, and potentially system credentials stored on the affected servers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers from outside the corporate network. The flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to critical communication infrastructure. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially access voice mail systems, retrieve caller information, obtain system configuration details, and gather intelligence that could facilitate further attacks on the organization's network. The exposure of sensitive communication data through this vulnerability could result in significant business disruption and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations utilizing affected Cisco Unified Communications systems face elevated risk of targeted attacks, particularly in environments where these systems are directly accessible from the internet or where insufficient network segmentation exists. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance activities that could lead to more sophisticated attacks against other network components.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Cisco software updates and security patches. The affected versions require specific service pack and software release updates to address the directory traversal weakness, with Cisco releasing patches specifically designed to resolve Bug IDs CSCth09343 and CSCts44049. Network administrators should implement proper access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks. The mitigation strategy should include disabling unnecessary web interfaces, implementing robust firewall rules, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running unsupported versions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious URL patterns and directory traversal attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) techniques, as attackers can use the vulnerability to discover system files and potentially harvest sensitive information through the compromised communication infrastructure. Regular security monitoring and patch management processes should be enhanced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future, ensuring that all communication systems remain up to date with the latest security patches and updates from Cisco.