CVE-2013-5528 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Tomcat administrative web interface in Cisco Unified Communications Manager allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in an unspecified input string, aka Bug ID CSCui78815.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5528 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Tomcat administrative web interface of Cisco Unified Communications Manager systems. This weakness specifically affects the web administration component that runs on the Tomcat application server platform, creating an avenue for malicious actors to access sensitive system files and data. The vulnerability exists in the input validation mechanisms of the administrative interface, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being processed by the underlying file system operations. This allows authenticated attackers to manipulate input strings containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files outside the designated web application root.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the Tomcat web application framework. When an authenticated user submits a request containing directory traversal sequences to an unspecified input string within the administrative interface, the application fails to adequately filter or validate the input before processing file system operations. This flaw enables attackers to craft malicious requests that can traverse the file system hierarchy and access files that should remain protected within the application's secure boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with legitimate access credentials can potentially leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to system files, configuration data, and sensitive information stored within the Cisco Unified Communications Manager environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can provide attackers with access to critical system information including configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and potentially system-level files that could facilitate further exploitation. Attackers could use this vulnerability to extract sensitive data such as user credentials, encryption keys, and system configurations that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability also creates potential for information disclosure that could aid in identifying other system weaknesses, as attackers might discover additional vulnerabilities through the exposure of system components, file structures, and application configurations. This could enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, system compromise, or the development of additional attack vectors against the unified communications infrastructure.
Security mitigations for CVE-2013-5528 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures within the Tomcat administrative interface. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly validated and filtered to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed by the application. The implementation of proper access controls and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the impact of any potential exploitation. Cisco has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should immediately apply these security updates to their Cisco Unified Communications Manager installations. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a classic example of how inadequate input validation can lead to severe security consequences in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, as it provides attackers with the means to extract sensitive information that could be used to further compromise the system and escalate privileges within the communications environment.