CVE-2014-2193 in Unified Web
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Unified Web and E-Mail Interaction Manager places session identifiers in GET requests, which allows remote attackers to inject conversation text by obtaining a valid identifier, aka Bug ID CSCuj43084.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2019
This vulnerability resides in Cisco Unified Web and E-Mail Interaction Manager, a component designed to facilitate web and email interactions within enterprise communication environments. The flaw manifests in how the system handles session management, specifically by embedding session identifiers directly within GET requests rather than utilizing secure session tokens stored in cookies or headers. This design choice creates a significant security risk as session identifiers become exposed in URL parameters, making them susceptible to interception and manipulation by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables remote attackers to inject conversation text into ongoing sessions, effectively allowing them to manipulate communication flows between users and the interaction manager system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper session management practices that violate fundamental security principles. When session identifiers are placed in GET requests, they become visible in web server logs, browser history, referral headers, and network traffic captures. This exposure occurs because GET requests are designed to be idempotent and cacheable, making them inherently unsuitable for carrying sensitive session information. Attackers can obtain valid session identifiers through various means including network sniffing, log analysis, or by leveraging other vulnerabilities that expose session data. Once obtained, these identifiers can be used to inject malicious conversation text into active sessions, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized access, or manipulation of communication content. This flaw directly relates to CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and CWE-384, which covers session management vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it enables active manipulation of communication sessions within the Cisco Unified Web and E-Mail Interaction Manager environment. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious content into ongoing conversations, potentially compromising the integrity of communication flows and leading to information disclosure or system compromise. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the interaction manager system, as unauthorized parties can manipulate session data to gain unauthorized access to communication channels or disrupt normal operational procedures. This weakness particularly impacts enterprise environments where secure communication is paramount, as it undermines the trust model of the interaction manager and exposes sensitive business communications to potential manipulation. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing or other means, and T1071, which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to address the session identifier exposure issue. The primary recommendation involves modifying the system configuration to ensure session identifiers are transmitted through secure headers or cookies rather than GET parameters. Network administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent injection attacks, while also deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar session management flaws throughout the enterprise infrastructure. The implementation of secure session management practices, including the use of secure, HttpOnly, and SameSite cookie attributes, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual patterns in session identifier usage and implement proper log management to track access attempts and potential exploitation attempts. These measures align with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, which emphasize the importance of secure session management and access control in enterprise security architectures.