CVE-2014-0741 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The certificate-import feature in the Certificate Authority Proxy Function (CAPF) CLI implementation in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) 10.0(1) and earlier allows local users to read or modify arbitrary files via a crafted command, aka Bug ID CSCum95461.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0741 represents a critical security flaw within the Certificate Authority Proxy Function CLI implementation of Cisco Unified Communications Manager versions 10.0(1) and earlier. This issue specifically targets the certificate-import functionality that enables local users to interact with the system through command-line interfaces. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the CAPF component, which processes certificate-related commands submitted through the CLI interface. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate the system by crafting specially formatted commands that bypass normal file access controls and security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal or command injection flaw where the CAPF CLI does not properly validate user-supplied parameters before processing certificate import operations. When local users submit crafted commands through the CLI, the system fails to adequately sanitize the input, allowing maliciously constructed file paths or command sequences to be executed with elevated privileges. This weakness enables attackers to access arbitrary files on the system filesystem, potentially including sensitive configuration files, certificate stores, or other privileged data. The vulnerability operates at the system level where local users can leverage their existing access to execute commands that would normally be restricted.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Cisco Unified Communications Manager for their voice and collaboration infrastructure. Local attackers with access to the system can escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to confidential information stored within certificate repositories and configuration files. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as attackers can modify critical system files, potentially disrupting communications services or establishing persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability undermines the integrity of the certificate management system and could compromise the entire trust model of the unified communications environment.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Cisco security patches and updates to address the vulnerability in affected systems. Organizations must also conduct thorough assessments of their Cisco Unified Communications Manager deployments to identify all affected versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit local user access to system interfaces where possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-78 Command Injection categories, representing a clear violation of secure coding practices and proper input validation. Additionally, this weakness maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting CLI interfaces where attackers can execute malicious commands with elevated privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that detect unusual CLI activity patterns and anomalous file access behaviors that could indicate exploitation attempts.