CVE-2015-4295 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The Prime Collaboration Deployment component in Cisco Unified Communications Manager 10.5(3.10000.9) allows remote authenticated users to discover root credentials via a direct request to an unspecified URL, aka Bug ID CSCuv21819.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4295 resides within the Prime Collaboration Deployment component of Cisco Unified Communications Manager version 10.5(3.10000.9). This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to extract root credentials through direct manipulation of an unspecified URL endpoint. The vulnerability operates under the broader context of insecure direct object references and weak access control mechanisms that undermine the security posture of enterprise communication systems. The flaw specifically affects organizations utilizing Cisco's unified communications infrastructure, where the Prime Collaboration Deployment component serves as a critical management interface for deployment operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a direct request mechanism that bypasses proper authentication and authorization checks within the web application layer. When authenticated users make requests to an unspecified URL within the application's interface, the system fails to properly validate the request parameters or enforce appropriate access controls. This allows attackers to craft specific requests that reveal administrative credentials stored within the system's configuration or database layers. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-668 (Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere), where sensitive information is exposed to unauthorized entities through improper access control enforcement. The attack vector requires only authentication to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as root credentials provide attackers with complete administrative control over the affected communication infrastructure. This level of access enables adversaries to modify system configurations, deploy malicious code, monitor communications, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network. Organizations utilizing Cisco Unified Communications Manager face significant risk of service disruption, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can leverage compromised legitimate credentials to gain deeper system access. The exposure of root credentials particularly threatens the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise communications, potentially affecting thousands of users within the affected network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4295 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address the underlying access control flaws in the Prime Collaboration Deployment component. Organizations must implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and enforce strict access control policies that restrict URL access based on user roles and privileges. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious URL access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all administrative interfaces to identify similar access control vulnerabilities and implement proper input validation and parameter checking mechanisms. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to ensure that no other components within the unified communications infrastructure contain similar weaknesses that could be exploited for credential disclosure or privilege escalation attacks.