CVE-2013-3442 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The web portal in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive stack-trace information via unspecified vectors that trigger a stack exception, aka Bug ID CSCug34854.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3442 affects Cisco Unified Communications Manager web portal functionality, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that could be exploited by remote authenticated attackers. This issue stems from improper error handling mechanisms within the unified communications platform's web interface, where specific conditions trigger stack trace generation that inadvertently exposes sensitive system information to unauthorized users. The vulnerability resides in the web portal component of Cisco Unified CM, which serves as the primary interface for administrative and user interactions with the communications infrastructure. The flaw manifests when legitimate authenticated users engage with certain portal functions that subsequently cause the system to generate and return stack trace information to the client. This behavior violates fundamental security principles by exposing internal system state information that should remain hidden from end users. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which specifically addresses improper error handling and information exposure issues, making it a direct descendant of well-established security weaknesses in software development practices. The stack trace information typically includes file paths, line numbers, function calls, and potentially sensitive data about the internal structure of the application, creating a goldmine of information for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks against the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed stack trace data can provide attackers with detailed insights into the application's internal architecture and implementation patterns. When remote authenticated users trigger the vulnerable conditions, they can access stack trace information that reveals the underlying technology stack, code structure, and potentially sensitive operational details about the communications environment. This information can be leveraged by threat actors to identify other potential attack vectors, understand the application's error handling mechanisms, and develop more targeted exploitation techniques. The vulnerability affects the web portal's ability to properly sanitize error responses, allowing attackers to craft specific requests that cause the system to generate and return verbose error messages containing stack trace information. This particular weakness creates a reconnaissance opportunity for attackers who can then use the exposed information to plan more advanced attacks against the unified communications infrastructure. The vulnerability represents a critical gap in the system's security posture, as it undermines the principle of least privilege by providing unauthorized access to internal system information that should remain protected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3442 should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms within the web portal component of Cisco Unified Communications Manager. Organizations should ensure that error messages returned to authenticated users are sanitized and do not contain stack trace information or other internal system details. The implementation of comprehensive logging and monitoring systems can help detect attempts to trigger the vulnerability, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar error handling weaknesses throughout the system. Cisco has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately to protect against exploitation. The remediation process involves configuring the web portal to suppress stack trace information in error responses and implementing proper input validation to prevent conditions that trigger the vulnerable code paths. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions that can detect and prevent attempts to exploit this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure error handling practices and the need for comprehensive security testing of all application components, particularly those handling user input and generating error responses. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of remote services and applications for information gathering purposes, making it a critical concern for organizations implementing unified communications solutions.