CVE-2013-1114 in Unity Express Software
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Cisco Unity Express before 8.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCud87527.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2024
Cisco Unity Express represents a unified communications platform that integrates voice messaging, voicemail, and collaboration features within enterprise environments. The platform serves as a critical component in organizational communication infrastructures, handling sensitive business data and user credentials. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 8.0, indicating a long-standing security flaw that could have persisted across multiple releases. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability manifests through various attack pathways, making it particularly concerning for security professionals who must account for multiple potential exploitation methods.
The cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Unity Express web interface. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML code through unspecified vectors that likely include user-controllable parameters in web forms, URL parameters, or HTTP headers. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. This class of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and represents a fundamental flaw in the platform's web application security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access to the communication platform. Remote attackers could manipulate the web interface to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or inject malicious content that would be displayed to other users. This creates a potential for widespread compromise within an organization, as the platform likely serves multiple users and departments. The vulnerability's presence in the web interface suggests that even non-privileged users could potentially exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security segmentation. The attack surface includes not just the web-based management interface but also any web-based features that might be accessible to users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates to Cisco Unity Express versions 8.0 and later. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the Unity Express platform and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Input validation should be strengthened at all entry points, with proper output encoding implemented for all dynamic content. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual web traffic patterns and potential XSS attack signatures. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 and its potential mapping to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection highlights the need for comprehensive defensive measures including regular security assessments, user awareness training, and implementation of secure coding practices. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within their infrastructure and ensure proper security configuration of the Unity Express platform.