CVE-2014-3283 in Unified Communications Domain Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in Self-Care Client Portal applications in the web framework in VOSS in Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager (CDM) 9.0(.1) and earlier allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCun79731.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3283 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Self-Care Client Portal applications of Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager version 9.0(.1) and earlier. This security weakness resides in the web framework component of the VOSS (Voice Over SIP) platform, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Cisco CDM for their unified communications infrastructure. The vulnerability enables malicious actors to manipulate user navigation through carefully crafted URLs that redirect visitors to attacker-controlled websites, effectively exploiting the trust users place in legitimate corporate portals.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the web application's redirect mechanisms. When users access certain endpoints within the Self-Care Client Portal, the application fails to properly validate redirect parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious URLs that bypass normal security checks. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the web framework's handling of redirect parameters, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring authentication or advanced technical skills. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which specifically addresses situations where applications redirect users to external sites without proper validation, and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential harvesting through phishing attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, creating a substantial risk for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that appear legitimate to users, leveraging the trust associated with the Cisco CDM portal to deceive victims into revealing sensitive information such as login credentials, personal data, or corporate secrets. Organizations using affected versions of Cisco CDM face potential unauthorized access to their communication systems, data exfiltration, and reputational damage from successful phishing operations. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprises that rely on the Self-Care Client Portal for user management and service access, as it provides attackers with a direct pathway to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the communication infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3283 require immediate action from affected organizations, beginning with upgrading to Cisco CDM versions that contain the necessary security patches. Cisco released updates addressing this vulnerability, and administrators should consult the official Cisco Security Advisories for specific patch information and implementation guidance. Network administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect parameters, monitoring for anomalous redirect patterns in web logs, and user education about recognizing phishing attempts. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar issues in the future. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure functionality is maintained while security is enhanced, following industry best practices for vulnerability management and incident response protocols.