CVE-2015-4222 in Unified Communications Manager IM
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM and Presence Service 9.1(1) allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCuq46325.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4222 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM and Presence Service version 9.1(1). This security weakness affects organizations relying on Cisco's unified communications infrastructure for instant messaging and presence services, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the underlying database systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of the IM and Presence service, enabling authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input vectors.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when authenticated users submit maliciously crafted input to the affected service, which then gets processed without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that are subsequently executed by the database engine, potentially enabling full database compromise. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authentication credentials to exploit, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user accounts can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the database.
From an operational standpoint, the exploitation of CVE-2015-4222 can result in severe consequences for organizations using Cisco Unified Communications Manager. Attackers can potentially extract confidential user information, modify database records, or even gain administrative access to the underlying database systems. The presence service in Cisco's unified communications platform typically stores sensitive user presence information, chat logs, and authentication data that could be compromised through this vulnerability. This compromise directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of communication data within enterprise environments, potentially affecting business continuity and regulatory compliance requirements.
The attack vectors for this vulnerability are not explicitly detailed in the CVE description, but typically such SQL injection flaws in web applications and services can be exploited through various input points including API endpoints, web forms, or database query interfaces. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the techniques related to command and control, credential access, and data extraction. Organizations should implement comprehensive network segmentation to limit access to the affected service, deploy robust input validation mechanisms, and ensure that all Cisco Unified Communications Manager instances are updated to patched versions. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing proper access controls to prevent unauthorized database access within unified communications environments.