CVE-2016-9206 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the ccmadmin page of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. More Information: CSCvb64641. Known Affected Releases: 11.5(1.10000.6) 11.5(1.11007.2). Known Fixed Releases: 11.5(1.12900.7) 11.5(1.12900.8) 12.0(0.98000.155) 12.0(0.98000.178) 12.0(0.98000.366) 12.0(0.98000.468) 12.0(0.98000.536) 12.0(0.98500.6).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9206 resides within the ccmadmin page of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, a critical component of enterprise communication infrastructure that manages voice, video, and messaging services. This flaw represents a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems by enabling unauthorized remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web interfaces. The vulnerability specifically affects Cisco Unified Communications Manager versions 11.5(1.10000.6) through 11.5(1.11007.2) and 12.0(0.98000.155) through 12.0(0.98500.6), creating a window of exposure where organizations using these releases face significant risk of exploitation. The reflected XSS nature means that malicious payloads are delivered via crafted URLs that, when clicked by victims, execute scripts within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to complete session hijacking or data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the ccmadmin web interface. When user-supplied parameters are directly reflected back to the browser without proper encoding or validation, attackers can embed malicious script code that executes in the context of the victim's session. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications, and demonstrates how insufficient sanitization of user inputs can lead to severe security consequences. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as any remote attacker can exploit it without prior access credentials. The affected ccmadmin page serves as a potential attack vector for executing malicious code against authenticated users who interact with the web interface, potentially compromising the entire communication infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as reflected XSS attacks can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise the integrity of the entire communication environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject persistent scripts that maintain access over time. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Cisco Unified Communications Manager serves as a central hub for enterprise communications, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations that rely on these systems for business continuity. The vulnerability's presence in multiple release versions indicates a prolonged exposure period, increasing the likelihood that organizations with outdated systems remain vulnerable. This exposure creates opportunities for attackers to conduct reconnaissance and establish persistent access points within enterprise networks, potentially leading to broader compromise of network infrastructure and sensitive communication data.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of available patches from the fixed releases including 11.5(1.12900.7) through 11.5(1.12900.8) and 12.0(0.98000.155) through 12.0(0.98500.6), which contain the necessary fixes to address the input validation issues. Security teams should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also reviewing web application firewall rules to block known malicious payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and links, as well as T1583.001 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their communication infrastructure to identify other potential entry points and ensure that all systems receive regular security updates to prevent similar exposure scenarios.