CVE-2015-6299 in Unity Connection
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the web interface in Cisco Unity Connection 9.1(1.2) and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via a crafted POST request, aka Bug ID CSCuv63824.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-6299 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Cisco Unity Connection's web interface component. This issue affects versions 9.1(1.2) and earlier, where the web application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The vulnerability specifically manifests through crafted POST requests that exploit insufficient input validation mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a specially crafted POST request containing malicious SQL payloads to the affected web interface. The web application processes this input without adequate sanitization or parameterization, directly embedding user-supplied data into SQL command strings. This design flaw enables attackers to construct arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account associated with the web application. The vulnerability is classified as a classic SQL injection attack vector that violates the principle of least privilege and proper input validation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using affected Cisco Unity Connection systems. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, and system configurations from the underlying database. The potential for privilege escalation exists, as attackers might gain access to administrative functions or escalate their privileges within the database. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable data manipulation or deletion, leading to service disruption and potential compliance violations. Organizations relying on Cisco Unity Connection for voice messaging services face risks of unauthorized access to voicemail systems and potential disruption of business communications.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that should be implemented according to secure coding guidelines. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the web interface to access system resources and potentially escalate privileges. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it requires no local access or authentication to exploit, making it a high-severity threat that can be exploited remotely.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for Cisco Unity Connection. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the web interface to only trusted administrative networks. Input validation mechanisms should be strengthened through parameterized queries and proper sanitization of user inputs. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Additionally, monitoring and logging of web interface access should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should follow the principle of defense in depth, combining multiple security controls to protect against this and similar vulnerabilities in the broader network infrastructure.