CVE-2013-7030 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** The TFTP service in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (aka CUCM or Unified CM) allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from a phone via an RRQ operation, as demonstrated by discovering a cleartext UseUserCredential field in an SPDefault.cnf.xml file. NOTE: the vendor reportedly disputes the significance of this report, stating that this is an expected default behavior, and that the product s documentation describes use of the TFTP Encrypted Config option in addressing this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7030 pertains to the Trivial File Transfer Protocol service within Cisco Unified Communications Manager, a critical component of enterprise communication infrastructure. This issue specifically affects the handling of remote requests during the initial phone registration process, where the TFTP service inadvertently exposes sensitive configuration data to unauthorized remote attackers. The vulnerability manifests through the Read Request (RRQ) operation, which is a standard TFTP function used by IP phones to request configuration files from a TFTP server. During this process, the system fails to properly sanitize or encrypt the information being transmitted, creating a potential information disclosure vector.
The technical flaw resides in the default configuration behavior of Cisco Unified Communications Manager where phone registration files contain cleartext credentials and configuration parameters that should remain protected. Specifically, the SPDefault.cnf.xml file includes a UseUserCredential field that is transmitted in plain text format, allowing attackers to extract authentication information that could potentially be used for further exploitation or unauthorized access to the communication system. This represents a fundamental security weakness in the design of the TFTP service implementation where sensitive data is not adequately protected during the initial provisioning phase of IP phone devices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage or transmission, and demonstrates poor implementation of secure configuration management practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for attackers to escalate their privileges within the communication infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to user credentials, authentication tokens, and other sensitive configuration parameters that would enable them to impersonate legitimate users or gain deeper access to the network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the initial phone provisioning process, meaning that any device connecting to the system could potentially expose this information during registration. This creates a persistent risk for organizations that rely on Cisco Unified Communications Manager for their voice infrastructure, as the vulnerability exists in the default configuration and could be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise. The potential for lateral movement within the network increases significantly when attackers can obtain authentication credentials through this vector.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation is to enable the TFTP Encrypted Config option as documented by Cisco, which provides encryption for configuration files transmitted via TFTP. This aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and demonstrates the importance of proper encryption implementation for sensitive data transmission. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate TFTP services from general network traffic, reducing the attack surface and limiting the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify any devices still operating with default configurations that may expose similar vulnerabilities. The mitigation approach should also include monitoring TFTP traffic for unusual patterns or unauthorized access attempts, as specified in security frameworks that address information exposure and credential theft. Cisco recommends reviewing and updating security policies to ensure that all devices are configured according to the latest security best practices, which includes disabling unnecessary services and implementing proper access controls for TFTP operations.