CVE-2016-6425 in Unified Intelligence Center
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco Unified Intelligence Center (CUIC) 8.5.4 through 9.1(1), as used in Unified Contact Center Express 10.0(1) through 11.0(1), allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka Bug IDs CSCuy75020 and CSCuy81652.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The CVE-2016-6425 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Cisco Unified Intelligence Center software versions 8.5.4 through 9.1(1) and affecting Unified Contact Center Express versions 10.0(1) through 11.0(1). This vulnerability exists within the web interface of Cisco's contact center analytics platform, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious code through crafted web requests. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input in URL parameters, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability was identified through Cisco's internal security research and documented under bug IDs CSCuy75020 and CSCuy81652, highlighting the severity of the issue within Cisco's contact center ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the CUIC web application framework. When users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious payloads, the application processes these inputs without adequate sanitization, leading to the execution of injected scripts in the victim's browser context. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector requires minimal privileges as remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where contact center analytics systems contain sensitive operational data. The vulnerability can be exploited through various methods including reflected XSS techniques where malicious code is reflected back to the user's browser through the vulnerable parameter handling.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6425 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, access sensitive contact center data, and execute unauthorized administrative actions within the Unified Intelligence Center environment. Given that CUIC systems typically contain detailed customer interaction data, call recordings, agent performance metrics, and business intelligence reports, successful exploitation could lead to significant data breaches and operational disruption. The vulnerability affects organizations using Cisco's contact center solutions, potentially compromising customer privacy and business operations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to call transcripts, customer information, and system configuration details that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where multiple users access the system simultaneously, as the vulnerability could be exploited to target specific users or perform mass attacks against the entire contact center infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Cisco, configuring web application firewalls to filter suspicious URL parameters, and implementing proper input validation controls within the application layer. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers phishing and social engineering attacks that leverage web-based vulnerabilities, and T1071.004 which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure, while regular security assessments should verify that the patched versions are properly implemented. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through log analysis and implement proper user education regarding suspicious URL handling. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that all affected components are updated, including both CUIC and Unified Contact Center Express installations, as the vulnerability spans multiple product versions and releases.