CVE-2014-1823 in Lync
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Web Components Server in Microsoft Lync Server 2010 and 2013 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL containing a valid meeting ID, aka "Lync Server Content Sanitization Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1823 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Microsoft Lync Server's Web Components Server implementation. This vulnerability specifically affects both Lync Server 2010 and 2013 versions, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these communication platforms. The flaw resides in the insufficient sanitization of user-provided input within the web components server, which processes meeting ID parameters in URLs. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs containing valid meeting IDs that include malicious script payloads, thereby bypassing the server's content sanitization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that contain meeting identifiers. When the Web Components Server processes these crafted URLs, it fails to properly sanitize the meeting ID values before rendering them in web responses. This improper input handling creates an environment where attacker-controlled script code can be executed within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where the system does not properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate meeting IDs, making the malicious payloads appear more trustworthy to both users and security systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and phishing attacks. When a user clicks on a maliciously crafted URL, the injected script can access the user's session cookies, potentially allowing unauthorized access to their Lync accounts. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited to redirect users to malicious websites, harvest sensitive information from the Lync interface, or even deploy additional malware. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with extensive Lync deployments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables both social engineering through crafted URLs and code execution within user browsers.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Microsoft Lync Server, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious URL parameters, and conducting security awareness training for users to recognize suspicious meeting invitations. Microsoft released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability, and administrators should ensure all systems are properly patched according to Microsoft's security bulletin MS14-052. Network segmentation and monitoring of Lync server traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, as recommended by OWASP Top Ten and the Secure Coding practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of communication platforms should be conducted to identify similar sanitization vulnerabilities that could compromise user sessions and sensitive organizational data.