CVE-2016-6472 in Unified Communication Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in several parameters of the ccmivr page of Cisco Unified Communication Manager (CallManager) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to launch a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web interface on the affected system. More Information: CSCvb37121. Known Affected Releases: 11.5(1.2). Known Fixed Releases: 11.5(1.11950.96) 11.5(1.12900.2) 12.0(0.98000.133) 12.0(0.98000.313) 12.0(0.98000.404).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6472 resides within the Cisco Unified Communication Manager's ccmivr web interface component, specifically targeting the ccmivr page implementation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise communication environments where such systems are frequently accessed by authorized personnel. The vulnerability affects Cisco Unified Communication Manager versions 11.5(1.2) and potentially other releases within the same software lineage, presenting a significant risk to organizations relying on these communication platforms for business-critical operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the ccmivr page parameters, which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This deficiency creates an environment where maliciously crafted input can be executed as script code within the context of a victim's browser session, allowing attackers to manipulate the web interface behavior and potentially escalate privileges or access sensitive information. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web interface and its users, making it particularly effective against authenticated sessions where users might unknowingly interact with malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with opportunities to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, and manipulate communication settings within the Cisco Unified Communication Manager environment. Attackers could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, inject malicious content into communication interfaces, or exploit the vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to voice communication systems. The implications are particularly severe for enterprise environments where communication systems handle sensitive business data and require high availability and security assurance. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-79 which identifies Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for modifying system images and T1566 for credential access through social engineering.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches released in versions 11.5(1.11950.96), 11.5(1.12900.2), 12.0(0.98000.133), 12.0(0.98000.313), and 12.0(0.98000.404, which address the input validation issues. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to monitor and filter malicious traffic targeting the affected interface. Regular security assessments should include verification of web interface parameters and input validation mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the communication infrastructure. Security monitoring should specifically track for unusual patterns in ccmivr page access and potential XSS attack signatures to ensure early detection and response to exploitation attempts.