CVE-2016-9210 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Unified Reporting upload tool accessed via the Cisco Unified Communications Manager could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to modify arbitrary files on the file system. More Information: CSCvb61698. Known Affected Releases: 11.5(1.11007.2). Known Fixed Releases: 12.0(0.98000.168) 12.0(0.98000.178) 12.0(0.98000.399) 12.0(0.98000.510) 12.0(0.98000.536) 12.0(0.98500.7).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-9210 represents a critical file system manipulation flaw within Cisco Unified Communications Manager's reporting upload tool. This security weakness allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary file modification operations on the underlying file system, effectively bypassing normal authentication mechanisms and creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects the upload functionality of the unified reporting component, which is designed to handle file uploads for reporting purposes within the communications infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the upload tool's processing pipeline. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious file upload requests that bypass normal file validation checks and directly manipulate the file system through the reporting tool interface. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal, which enables attackers to access files and directories outside the intended scope. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise communications systems that typically require minimal network exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file modification capabilities, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive communication data. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could replace critical system files, inject malicious code into the reporting infrastructure, or manipulate existing files to disrupt service availability. The affected release version 11.5(1.11007.2) represents a specific build where the upload tool's security controls were insufficiently implemented, creating a persistent risk for organizations relying on this communications platform. The vulnerability affects the broader Cisco Unified Communications Manager ecosystem, which serves as a foundational component for enterprise voice and collaboration services, making the potential impact substantial for organizations with large-scale communications deployments.
Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through multiple release versions, with the fixed releases including 12.0(0.98000.168), 12.0(0.98000.178), 12.0(0.98000.399), 12.0(0.98000.510), 12.0(0.98000.536), and 12.0(0.98500.7), each containing security patches that strengthen the upload tool's input validation and access control mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation, as the vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature makes it particularly attractive to automated attack tools. The remediation process involves updating the Cisco Unified Communications Manager software to one of the fixed versions, ensuring that the upload tool's validation processes properly restrict file operations to authorized directories and prevent arbitrary file system manipulation. Security administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect potential exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category of Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries may leverage compromised systems to execute malicious commands through the modified file system access.