CVE-2015-6410 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The Mobile and Remote Access (MRA) services implementation in Cisco Unified Communications Manager mishandles edge-device identity validation, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended call-reception and call-setup restrictions by spoofing a user, aka Bug ID CSCuu97283.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6410 affects Cisco Unified Communications Manager's Mobile and Remote Access services, specifically targeting the edge-device identity validation mechanism. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the communication infrastructure that governs how remote access and mobile connectivity are managed within enterprise voice systems. The issue manifests in the improper handling of device authentication processes that should verify the legitimacy of edge devices attempting to establish communication with the unified communications platform.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient validation of edge-device identities within the MRA service framework. When remote attackers exploit this vulnerability, they can successfully spoof legitimate user credentials or device identities, effectively bypassing the intended security controls that govern call reception and setup restrictions. This allows unauthorized entities to masquerade as authorized devices or users, gaining access to communication services that should remain restricted to legitimate participants. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to voice services through remote and mobile connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating potential for significant disruption and data compromise within enterprise communication networks. Attackers leveraging this flaw can manipulate call routing, intercept communications, and potentially gain access to sensitive information transmitted through the unified communications system. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Cisco Unified Communications Manager by undermining the trust relationships between edge devices and the central communication platform, potentially allowing for man-in-the-middle attacks and unauthorized service provisioning. Organizations relying on mobile and remote access capabilities for business continuity face heightened risk of communication disruptions and security breaches.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing immediate patches provided by Cisco to address the identity validation flaw in the MRA services. Network segmentation and additional authentication layers should be deployed to reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous device authentication patterns and unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also review and strengthen their device provisioning processes, ensuring that proper identity management and certificate-based authentication mechanisms are in place. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for spearphishing with social engineering. The remediation approach must include comprehensive testing of the patched environment to ensure that legitimate mobile and remote access functionality remains operational while addressing the specific identity validation bypass mechanism that enables this attack vector.