CVE-2014-3366 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the administrative web interface in Cisco Unified Communications Manager allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via a crafted response, aka Bug ID CSCup88089.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The CVE-2014-3366 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in Cisco Unified Communications Manager's administrative web interface. This vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the platform's database interactions. The flaw resides in how the administrative interface processes user input, particularly when handling responses from authenticated users who possess legitimate access credentials. This issue was identified and documented under the Bug ID CSCup88089, highlighting the severity of the exposure within Cisco's unified communications infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the administrative web components of Cisco Unified Communications Manager. When authenticated users submit crafted responses through the web interface, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as SQL command delimiters or operators. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code directly into the database query execution path, bypassing normal security controls and authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the parameter handling within the administrative interface, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL statements without adequate protection measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3366 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database system. This could enable unauthorized access to sensitive communication data, user credentials, call records, and system configuration information. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges, modify database contents, create new user accounts, or even compromise the entire communication infrastructure. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where administrative interfaces are accessible over networks. This aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in data validation and input sanitization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the administrative interface components. Organizations should apply the latest security patches provided by Cisco immediately upon release, as the vendor addressed this specific vulnerability in subsequent software updates. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit administrative interface access to trusted personnel only, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation efforts should also include regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other components of the communication infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities.