CVE-2015-0704 in Unified MeetingPlace
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in API features in Cisco Unified MeetingPlace 8.6(1.9) allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users, aka Bug ID CSCus95884.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0704 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Cisco Unified MeetingPlace version 8.6(1.9). This issue affects the application programming interface features of the system and enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanism by tricking users into executing unauthorized actions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the API endpoints, creating a pathway for malicious actors to hijack active user sessions and perform actions on their behalf without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the absence of robust CSRF protection mechanisms in the API functionality of Cisco Unified MeetingPlace. Attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate authenticated users, leveraging the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The flaw specifically impacts the API features that handle user authentication and session management, allowing unauthorized operations to be performed through forged requests that bypass normal authentication checks. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web-based attack vectors that manipulate the request flow to the targeted system.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0704 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables session hijacking and privilege escalation capabilities for attackers. Successful exploitation allows remote threat actors to perform administrative functions, modify user configurations, access sensitive meeting data, and potentially gain persistent access to the unified communications platform. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on Cisco Unified MeetingPlace for video conferencing and collaboration services, potentially compromising the integrity of their communication infrastructure and exposing confidential business information. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the network or system to exploit this weakness.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms across all API endpoints that handle user authentication and session management operations. This includes generating unique tokens for each user session and validating these tokens on every state-changing request to ensure legitimate origin. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable API interfaces, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence domains. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious API request patterns that may indicate CSRF attack attempts, while ensuring all Cisco Unified MeetingPlace installations are updated to patched versions that address this specific vulnerability.