CVE-2013-6978 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The disaster recovery system (DRS) component in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UCM) 9.1(1) and earlier allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive device information by reading "extraneous information" in HTML source code, aka Bug ID CSCuj39249.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6978 resides within the disaster recovery system component of Cisco Unified Communications Manager version 9.1(1) and earlier releases. This flaw represents a critical information disclosure issue that affects organizations relying on Cisco's unified communications infrastructure for their business continuity and disaster recovery operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the DRS functionality which is designed to ensure system availability and data recovery during catastrophic events, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where communication systems are paramount to business operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of HTML source code within the DRS component, where sensitive device information becomes inadvertently exposed through what attackers term "extraneous information" in the rendered web pages. This occurs when authenticated users access certain administrative interfaces or recovery procedures within the UCM system, allowing them to view HTML source code that contains confidential data such as system configurations, device identifiers, or other sensitive operational parameters. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices within the web interface components of the disaster recovery system, creating a pathway for unauthorized information extraction.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Cisco UCM systems, as it enables remote authenticated attackers to gain access to sensitive device information that could be leveraged for further attacks. The exposure of system details through HTML source code can provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data including device models, software versions, network configurations, and potentially administrative credentials or session tokens. This information disclosure could facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation, system compromise, or targeted social engineering campaigns against system administrators, directly impacting the security posture of the entire unified communications infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates that address this vulnerability, restricting access to the disaster recovery system interfaces through network segmentation and access controls, and implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns to administrative interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1082 for System Information Discovery, as it enables adversaries to gather system details that would typically be restricted to authorized personnel. Additionally, this vulnerability may contribute to broader attack chains involving privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network, making proactive remediation essential for maintaining secure communications environments.