CVE-2016-6371 in Hosted Collaboration Mediation Fulfillment
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the web interface in Cisco Hosted Collaboration Mediation Fulfillment (HCM-F) 10.6(3) and earlier allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCuz64717.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6371 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Cisco Hosted Collaboration Mediation Fulfillment version 10.6(3) and earlier releases. This security weakness exists in the web interface component of the HCM-F platform, which serves as a crucial element in Cisco's collaboration infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper path handling within the web application's file operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate file system access through crafted HTTP requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit a lack of proper sanitization in URL parameters that control file operations. When the web interface processes user-supplied input containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, the application fails to adequately validate or sanitize these inputs before using them in file system operations. This flaw enables attackers to craft malicious URLs that bypass normal access controls and write to arbitrary files on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects the file writing functionality within the web interface, making it particularly dangerous for attackers seeking persistent access or privilege escalation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco HCM-F deployments. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to upload malicious files, modify critical system components, or establish backdoors within the network infrastructure. The ability to write arbitrary files means attackers can potentially overwrite legitimate system binaries, inject malicious code, or create persistent access points that survive system reboots. This vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a direct pathway to compromise the underlying infrastructure, potentially affecting collaboration services, data integrity, and overall network security posture. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, which address the directory traversal vulnerability through proper input validation and path sanitization. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the affected web interface to only authorized personnel. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious URL patterns associated with this vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers may use this vulnerability to establish persistent access through file injection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the collaboration infrastructure that may present similar attack vectors.