CVE-2013-3434 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) 7.1(x) through 9.1(1a) allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging unspecified file-permission and environment-variable issues for privileged programs, aka Bug ID CSCui02242.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-3434 represents a critical untrusted search path issue within Cisco Unified Communications Manager versions 7.1 through 9.1(1a). This flaw falls under the category of CWE-427 Untrusted Search Path, which occurs when programs search for files or executables in directories that are not properly secured or validated. The vulnerability specifically affects privileged programs within the CUCM environment, creating a potential privilege escalation vector that could be exploited by local attackers. The issue stems from improper handling of environment variables and file permissions that allow malicious actors to manipulate the program execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of how CUCM handles environment variables during program execution, particularly when privileged processes are invoked. When these processes execute, they may inadvertently search through directories that are writable by unprivileged users or contain malicious executables that match expected program names. This creates an opportunity for local users to place malicious binaries in the search path, which will then be executed with elevated privileges by the privileged programs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions of the CUCM platform, indicating a widespread issue within the product line that was not adequately addressed through the affected release cycle.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. Local users who can manipulate the environment variables or file permissions in the search path can effectively elevate their privileges to that of the privileged programs, potentially gaining access to confidential communications data, system configuration information, or the ability to modify critical network settings. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the unified communications infrastructure. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can be executed within the existing system environment without requiring additional network access or external tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper environment variable sanitization and establishing secure search paths for privileged programs. Organizations should ensure that all executable paths are explicitly defined and validated, with no reliance on potentially insecure default paths that may be manipulated by local users. The implementation of secure coding practices that prevent environment variable injection and enforce strict path resolution is essential. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that privileged programs do not search through directories that are writable by unprivileged users, and that file permissions are properly configured to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system files. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding guidelines and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly for applications that handle sensitive communications data and operate in enterprise network environments where privilege escalation can have severe consequences.