CVE-2015-6376 in TelePresence Video Communication Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) X8.5.1 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users, aka Bug ID CSCuv72412.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2018
The Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server X8.5.1 contains a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that enables remote attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions without proper authorization. This flaw exists within the web-based administrative interface of the VCS platform, which is commonly used for managing video communication systems in enterprise environments. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's handling of authentication tokens and session management mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-forgery token validation within the VCS web interface. When administrators perform administrative tasks through the web GUI, the system should validate that requests originate from legitimate authenticated sessions. However, the X8.5.1 version fails to adequately verify the authenticity of requests, allowing attackers to craft malicious web pages or email attachments that can trigger administrative actions when victims visit compromised sites or click on malicious links. This weakness operates at the application layer and specifically targets the session management components of the VCS platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable complete compromise of the video communication infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to modify system configurations, create new user accounts, change administrative passwords, or even disable critical communication services. In enterprise environments where VCS systems manage critical video conferencing infrastructure, this could result in significant business disruption and potential security breaches. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no prior authentication to exploit, making it accessible to remote attackers with minimal access requirements.
Organizations using Cisco VCS X8.5.1 should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the CSRF implementation flaws in the web interface. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the VCS administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities can help detect exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing attacks that could be used to deliver the malicious payloads exploiting this flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security audits of their video communication infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities across their network.