CVE-2014-2197 in Unified CDM Application Software
Summary
by MITRE
The Administration GUI in the web framework in Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager (CDM) in Unified CDM Application Software before 8.1.4 does not properly implement access control, which allows remote authenticated users to modify administrative credentials via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCun49862.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2197 resides within the Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager application software, specifically affecting versions prior to 8.1.4. This issue manifests in the Administration GUI component of the web framework, which serves as the primary interface for managing and configuring the unified communications environment. The flaw represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this platform for their communication infrastructure management.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the web framework's administrative interface. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specifically formatted URLs that bypass normal authorization checks. This allows them to manipulate administrative functions and modify user credentials without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the privilege escalation path within the application's security model, where the system fails to properly verify user permissions before executing administrative operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using Cisco Unified CDM software, as it enables authenticated attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to critical communication systems. The attack requires only valid user credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where credential compromise is possible through social engineering, phishing, or other attack vectors. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the unified communications infrastructure, including unauthorized access to voice and video communication systems, modification of user accounts, and potential data exfiltration from the communication network.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation attacks. Organizations should consider this issue in relation to ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. The attack vector requires network access and valid authentication, making it a medium-risk vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers who have already gained access to user accounts. Remediation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates to versions 8.1.4 and later, implementing additional network segmentation controls, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities within the unified communications environment. Organizations should also review their access control policies and ensure that administrative functions are properly protected through multi-factor authentication and least privilege principles.