CVE-2016-1354 in Unified Communications Domain Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager (UCDM) 8.x before 8.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted markup data, aka Bug ID CSCud41176.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1354 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager version 8.x prior to 8.1.1. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input data, specifically when processing crafted markup content that should be properly sanitized and validated before being rendered in web interfaces. The issue affects organizations utilizing Cisco's unified communications infrastructure, where the UCDM serves as a central management platform for voice and video communication systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application layer of the UCDM system. Attackers can exploit this flaw by submitting maliciously crafted markup data through various input vectors including web forms, API endpoints, or other user-facing interfaces. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters and script tags in user-provided content, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes within the context of other users' browsers. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Remote attackers could potentially execute persistent XSS payloads that compromise user sessions, steal sensitive authentication tokens, redirect users to malicious websites, or even escalate privileges within the communications domain. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Cisco's unified communications infrastructure, where the UCDM manages critical voice and video services, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to disrupt business communications or gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate networks.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Cisco's official security patches and updates, specifically targeting the UCDM 8.1.1 release or later versions that contain the necessary fixes. The mitigation strategy should also include network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and comprehensive input validation controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving web application attacks and session management compromise, while also potentially enabling lateral movement through credential theft and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other applications within the communications infrastructure, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader architectural security gaps that require comprehensive security hardening measures.