CVE-2014-2145 in Unity Connection
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the messaging API in Cisco Unity Connection allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via vectors related to unenforced access constraints for .wav files and the audio/x-wav MIME type, aka Bug ID CSCun91071.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2145 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Cisco Unity Connection's messaging API component. This security weakness specifically targets the handling of .wav audio files and their associated audio/x-wav MIME type, creating an avenue for unauthorized file access that could potentially expose sensitive system information. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of file access requests, allowing authenticated attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files from arbitrary locations within the system's file structure.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the messaging API's failure to properly enforce access constraints when processing requests for .wav files. When an authenticated user submits a request for audio content, the system does not adequately validate the requested file path or verify that the user has proper authorization to access the specified resource. This oversight enables attackers to manipulate file paths through specially crafted requests, effectively circumventing the intended security boundaries that should prevent access to sensitive system files. The vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of audio/x-wav MIME type requests, making it particularly dangerous for environments where voice messaging and audio communications are prevalent.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Cisco Unity Connection for voice messaging services. An authenticated attacker with access to the messaging system could potentially extract configuration files, user credentials, system logs, or other sensitive data stored in accessible directories. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the ability to read arbitrary files could lead to further exploitation opportunities including privilege escalation, system compromise, or data exfiltration. Organizations with extensive voice messaging infrastructure face heightened risk, particularly in environments where the system stores sensitive communications or personal data.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses Directory Traversal or Path Traversal attacks, and demonstrates how improper input validation can create security holes in file access mechanisms. From an attack framework perspective, this weakness maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers could leverage the ability to read system files to extract valuable information. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Cisco's security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the messaging API, and conducting thorough access control reviews to minimize the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring for unusual file access patterns and implementing proper input validation controls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust access control mechanisms in multimedia applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of API endpoints handling file operations.