CVE-2014-0672 in MediaSense
Summary
by MITRE
The Search and Play interface in Cisco MediaSense does not properly enforce authorization requirements, which allows remote authenticated users to download arbitrary recordings via a request to this interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0672 resides within Cisco MediaSense's Search and Play interface, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of voice recording systems. This issue affects Cisco MediaSense versions prior to 1.1.2 and demonstrates how inadequate access control mechanisms can expose sensitive audio data to unauthorized individuals. The vulnerability specifically targets the interface responsible for managing and retrieving voice recordings, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass legitimate authentication processes and gain access to confidential audio content.
The technical flaw stems from improper authorization enforcement within the Search and Play interface, where the system fails to validate user permissions before processing requests for audio recordings. This weakness allows authenticated users to manipulate API calls or web requests to access recordings they should not have permission to retrieve, effectively circumventing the intended access controls. The vulnerability operates through predictable request patterns that can be exploited without requiring additional privileges beyond initial authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing user sessions to access restricted content.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco MediaSense for call recording and compliance purposes. Remote authenticated attackers can systematically download arbitrary recordings, potentially accessing sensitive business communications, customer data, or confidential discussions that should remain protected. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as unauthorized access to voice recordings can compromise privacy, violate regulatory compliance requirements, and expose organizations to legal liability. Organizations using this system may face audit failures, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage when such unauthorized access occurs.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and demonstrates how insufficient access control validation can create persistent security risks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access tactics, as attackers can leverage legitimate credentials to access restricted resources. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches, reviewing access controls for the MediaSense interface, and conducting thorough audits of user permissions. Network segmentation and monitoring of API access patterns can also help detect anomalous behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that access controls remain properly enforced.