CVE-2014-8418 in Asterisk
Summary
by MITRE
The DB dialplan function in Asterisk Open Source 1.8.x before 1.8.32, 11.x before 11.1.4.1, 12.x before 12.7.1, and 13.x before 13.0.1 and Certified Asterisk 1.8 before 1.8.28-cert8 and 11.6 before 11.6-cert8 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via a call from an external protocol, as demonstrated by the AMI protocol.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8418 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Asterisk Open Source and Certified Asterisk implementations. This vulnerability specifically affects the DB dialplan function, which is a core component responsible for database operations within the Asterisk telephony platform. The flaw exists across multiple versions including Asterisk 1.8.x before 1.8.32, 11.x before 11.1.4.1, 12.x before 12.7.1, and 13.x before 13.0.1, as well as certified versions with similar version constraints. The vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges through calls originating from external protocols, particularly demonstrating the attack vector through the Asterisk Manager Interface protocol.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege checking within the DB dialplan function. When an authenticated user makes a call through external protocols such as AMI, the system fails to properly validate the source and context of the database operations being requested. This allows attackers who have established authentication credentials to manipulate the dialplan execution flow and potentially execute database operations with elevated privileges. The flaw specifically manifests when external protocol calls interact with the DB function, bypassing normal access controls that should restrict database operations to authorized users only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Asterisk for telephony services, as it provides a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive database information. The attack vector through AMI protocol is particularly concerning because AMI is commonly used for remote management and monitoring of Asterisk systems, making it a frequent target for exploitation. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to read, modify, or delete database entries that contain sensitive information such as user credentials, call logs, or configuration data. The vulnerability affects both open source and certified versions of Asterisk, indicating a widespread impact across the telephony infrastructure ecosystem.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for all affected versions of Asterisk and Certified Asterisk. The recommended approach involves upgrading to the patched versions where CVE-2014-8418 has been resolved through proper input validation and privilege enforcement mechanisms. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict AMI protocol access to trusted networks only, while disabling unnecessary external protocol access. Additionally, monitoring and logging of database operations should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a technique that could be categorized under ATT&CK matrix tactic TA0004 (Privilege Escalation) and technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), highlighting its potential for unauthorized system access and control.