CVE-2013-1134 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The Location Bandwidth Manager (LBM) Intracluster-communication feature in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) 9.x before 9.1(1) does not require authentication from the remote LBM Hub node, which allows remote attackers to conduct cache-poisoning attacks against transaction records, and cause a denial of service (bandwidth-pool consumption and call outage), via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCub28920.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1134 affects the Location Bandwidth Manager component within Cisco Unified Communications Manager version 9.x prior to 9.1(1). This issue resides in the Intracluster-communication feature of the LBM system, which is responsible for managing bandwidth allocation and location-based communication within unified communication environments. The flaw represents a critical security oversight that undermines the integrity and availability of the communication infrastructure by failing to implement proper authentication mechanisms for remote node communications.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of authentication requirements when remote LBM Hub nodes attempt to communicate with the local LBM system. This authentication gap creates an exploitable condition where unauthorized remote entities can establish connections without proper verification of their identity or authorization status. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified attack vectors that enable malicious actors to inject forged transaction records into the system's cache mechanisms. This cache poisoning capability directly impacts the LBM's ability to accurately track and allocate bandwidth resources across the communication cluster.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass significant business continuity risks. Attackers can consume excessive bandwidth pool resources through manipulated transaction records, effectively depleting available capacity for legitimate communications. This resource exhaustion leads to call outage conditions where valid users experience disrupted or failed communication sessions. The vulnerability affects the overall reliability of the unified communications infrastructure, potentially causing cascading failures that impact enterprise communication networks. The attack vector allows for persistent resource consumption that can remain undetected while systematically degrading network performance.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in network communication systems. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, representing exploitation of vulnerabilities in communication protocols through unauthorized access to network services. Organizations implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager should prioritize immediate patch deployment to address this vulnerability, as it represents a significant risk to network availability and communication integrity. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying the vendor-supplied security patches and implementing additional network segmentation controls to limit exposure of vulnerable LBM components to untrusted networks. Network administrators should also monitor for unusual bandwidth consumption patterns and implement proper access controls for LBM communication endpoints to prevent unauthorized access and maintain system integrity.