CVE-2016-1307 in Unified Contact Center Express
Summary
by MITRE
The Openfire server in Cisco Finesse Desktop 10.5(1) and 11.0(1) and Unified Contact Center Express 10.6(1) has a hardcoded account, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via an XMPP session, aka Bug ID CSCuw79085.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-1307 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Finesse Desktop and Unified Contact Center Express platforms. This issue stems from the presence of a hardcoded administrative account within the Openfire server component that is embedded in these Cisco products. The hardcoded credentials create a persistent backdoor that remains unchanged regardless of system configuration or security updates, fundamentally undermining the authentication mechanisms designed to protect these communication platforms. The vulnerability specifically affects versions 10.5(1) and 11.0(1) of Cisco Finesse Desktop and version 10.6(1) of Unified Contact Center Express, indicating a widespread issue across multiple product iterations.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the inclusion of default administrative credentials directly within the software code or configuration files of the Openfire server. This hardcoded account allows remote attackers to establish XMPP sessions without requiring legitimate authentication, effectively bypassing all normal access controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the XMPP protocol, which is commonly used for instant messaging and presence information in contact center environments. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply connecting to the XMPP service using the known credentials, gaining administrative privileges that enable them to access sensitive communication data, modify system configurations, and potentially escalate their access to other network resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges that can compromise entire contact center infrastructures. Since the hardcoded account remains persistent across system updates and reboots, it creates a long-term security risk that persists even after administrators believe they have secured their systems. The vulnerability enables attackers to monitor communication sessions, access customer data, modify contact center configurations, and potentially disrupt business operations. This risk is particularly severe in contact center environments where sensitive customer information, transaction details, and communication records are processed, making the compromise of such systems a significant concern for organizations handling regulated data.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including disabling unused services, implementing network segmentation to isolate the affected systems, and applying available patches from Cisco. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials, and represents a clear violation of security best practices for credential management. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the hardcoded credentials to gain administrative access and subsequently move laterally within the network. The remediation process requires thorough inventory of affected systems, immediate patch deployment, and comprehensive security auditing to ensure no other hardcoded credentials exist within the environment, while also implementing robust monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts.