CVE-2013-1197 in Unified Presence
Summary
by MITRE
The XML parser in the server in Cisco Unified Presence (CUP) allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (jabberd daemon crash) via crafted XML content in an XMPP message, aka Bug ID CSCue13912.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1197 affects Cisco Unified Presence server software, specifically targeting its XML parser implementation within the jabberd daemon responsible for processing XMPP messages. This weakness exists in the server-side processing of Extensible Markup Language content, which forms the foundation of XMPP communication protocols used for instant messaging and presence information. The vulnerability resides in how the system handles malformed XML data structures, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to disrupt service availability. The issue impacts organizations relying on Cisco Unified Presence for enterprise communication infrastructure, where the jabberd daemon serves as a critical component for managing user presence and messaging services.
The technical flaw manifests when the XML parser encounters crafted XML content within XMPP messages that has been specifically designed to exploit memory handling behaviors within the server application. This malformed input causes the jabberd daemon to crash and restart, leading to a denial of service condition that affects legitimate users attempting to access presence and messaging services. The vulnerability requires authentication to exploit, meaning only authorized users with valid credentials can potentially trigger the condition, though this limitation does not prevent significant operational disruption. The parser's failure occurs during the processing phase when it attempts to interpret the malformed XML structure, resulting in abnormal termination of the daemon process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can severely disrupt enterprise communication systems where presence information and instant messaging are critical business functions. Organizations may experience cascading effects when the jabberd daemon crashes, potentially affecting user availability, collaboration workflows, and overall productivity. The vulnerability can be particularly damaging in environments where continuous communication is essential, as the service disruption may last until manual intervention occurs or the system automatically restarts. Additionally, the authenticated nature of the attack means that malicious insiders or compromised accounts could exploit this weakness without requiring external network access, making it a significant concern for security administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1197 should prioritize applying the official Cisco security patches and updates that address the XML parsing vulnerability within the jabberd daemon. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual XMPP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also enforcing strict access controls and credential management practices to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit XMPP traffic between trusted network segments, reducing the potential blast radius of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the broader communication infrastructure that may present additional attack vectors.