CVE-2016-6426 in Unified Contact Center
Summary
by MITRE
The j_spring_security_switch_user function 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 create user accounts by visiting an unspecified web page, aka Bug IDs CSCuy75027 and CSCuy81653.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6426 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within Cisco Unified Intelligence Center (CUIC) versions 8.5.4 through 9.1(1) and Unified Contact Center Express 10.0(1) through 11.0(1). This issue manifests through the j_spring_security_switch_user function, which exposes a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the authentication system and create unauthorized user accounts without proper credentials or authorization. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the web application's security framework, specifically targeting the Spring Security implementation used by Cisco's contact center solutions. The flaw allows attackers to exploit a web endpoint that should normally require administrative privileges to switch user contexts, but instead permits arbitrary account creation through simple web requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers access specific web pages that trigger the j_spring_security_switch_user function without proper authentication checks. This function, designed to facilitate legitimate user switching operations, fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative permissions or even basic authentication credentials. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) as it enables unauthorized account creation and potentially allows attackers to escalate privileges within the system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no specialized tools or deep technical knowledge beyond basic web browsing capabilities, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal expertise. The vulnerability exists due to improper validation of user permissions and session management within the Spring Security framework integration, creating a persistent backdoor for unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized account creation, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for further system compromise within Cisco contact center environments. Once an attacker successfully creates a user account, they can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive customer data, manipulate call routing configurations, or even gain administrative control over the entire Unified Contact Center Express system. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely heavily on contact center analytics and reporting, where the CUIC component provides crucial business intelligence and performance monitoring capabilities. Organizations using these affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential disruption of business operations. The impact is particularly severe in regulated industries such as financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications, where customer data protection and audit trails are paramount. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through legitimate user accounts, potentially evading detection mechanisms that monitor for unusual login patterns or privilege escalation attempts.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the authorization bypass through proper input validation and access control enforcement. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected web endpoints, particularly limiting access to trusted administrative networks only. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual account creation patterns and unauthorized access attempts to the j_spring_security_switch_user function. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other Spring Security implementations within the organization's infrastructure. Additionally, implementing robust logging and audit mechanisms for authentication and authorization events will help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code review processes to identify similar authorization flaws in custom applications and third-party software integrations.