CVE-2016-1377 in Unity Connection
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco Unity Connection through 11.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters, aka Bug ID CSCus21776.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The CVE-2016-1377 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Cisco Unity Connection software versions up to 11.0. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically manifests as a remote code execution vector that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface of Cisco Unity Connection, which is a unified communications platform designed to handle voice messaging, email integration, and collaborative features. The unspecified parameters mentioned in the description indicate that the vulnerability affects multiple input points within the application's web interface, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can potentially target various entry points to inject malicious scripts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious input strings that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages served by the Cisco Unity Connection server. When legitimate users browse to affected pages containing the malicious payloads, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of the vulnerable application. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, modifying user interface elements, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that exploitation does not require physical access or local network privileges, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such systems are often exposed to external networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1377 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire unified communications environment. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive voice messages, manipulate user accounts, or even gain deeper access to underlying network infrastructure. The affected Cisco Unity Connection platform serves as a critical component in many enterprise communication systems, making successful exploitation a significant threat to business continuity and data security. Organizations using this software may experience unauthorized access to confidential voice communications, disruption of services, and potential data exfiltration through the execution of malicious scripts that can persist across user sessions.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Cisco Unity Connection systems to the latest available software versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be implemented to monitor and filter suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Input validation controls should be strengthened to ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing, and output encoding should be enforced to prevent script execution in web contexts. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other communication platforms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and the T1566 technique for "Phishing" as attackers may use the XSS capability to deliver additional malicious payloads through social engineering campaigns targeting end users.