CVE-2014-2192 in Unified Web
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco Unified Web and E-mail Interaction Manager 9.0(2) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an unspecified parameter, aka Bug ID CSCuj43033.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2192 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Unified Web and E-mail Interaction Manager version 9.0(2), classified under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This critical security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or complete compromise of user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through an unspecified parameter within the web application interface, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This inadequate input handling creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can craft specially formatted requests containing script code that gets executed when the vulnerable application processes and displays the data. The flaw exists in the web interaction manager component of Cisco's unified communications platform, which serves as an interface between email systems and web-based customer interaction portals.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the affected environment. Attackers leveraging this XSS vulnerability could potentially access confidential customer information, manipulate web application functionality, or redirect users to malicious sites for phishing attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on web-based interaction platforms for customer service operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injections, and conducting thorough input validation across all web application interfaces. The mitigation strategy should align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing through social engineering, as these techniques often leverage XSS vulnerabilities for initial access and persistence within compromised environments. Additionally, security teams should perform comprehensive code reviews and input sanitization testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within their infrastructure.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with the principle of defense in depth as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 controls. The affected Cisco Unified Web and E-mail Interaction Manager represents a common attack surface for threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise communication platforms, particularly in environments where customer interaction data flows through web-based interfaces. The security community should consider this vulnerability as part of broader web application security assessments, given its potential to serve as a gateway for more sophisticated attacks targeting enterprise networks and customer data repositories.