CVE-2017-12302 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Unified Communications Manager SQL database interface could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to impact the confidentiality of the system by executing arbitrary SQL queries, aka SQL Injection. The vulnerability is due to a lack of input validation on user-supplied input in SQL queries. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted URLs that contain malicious SQL statements to the affected system. An exploit could allow the attacker to determine the presence of certain values in the database. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf36682.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12302 resides within the Cisco Unified Communications Manager SQL database interface, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the system's confidentiality controls. This vulnerability manifests as a SQL injection weakness that affects the database layer of the communications platform, which serves as a cornerstone for enterprise voice and collaboration services. The flaw specifically stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query executions. The affected system processes URLs containing user input without adequate sanitization, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to manipulate database operations. This vulnerability impacts organizations relying on Cisco Unified Communications Manager for their telephony infrastructure, potentially exposing sensitive communication data and system configurations to unauthorized access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are processed by the SQL database interface. An authenticated remote attacker can craft malicious URLs containing specially formatted SQL statements that bypass normal input validation controls. When the system processes these crafted URLs, the unsanitized input gets directly embedded into SQL queries, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary database operations. The attack vector specifically targets the SQL query construction process where user-supplied values are concatenated into database commands without proper escaping or parameterization. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a severe weakness in software security practices. The exploitation enables attackers to perform data enumeration operations, potentially discovering the presence of specific values within the database, including user credentials, system configurations, and communication metadata. The vulnerability does not require privileged access for exploitation, as the attacker only needs valid authentication credentials to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where legitimate user access exists.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of the entire communication infrastructure. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can extract sensitive information from the database, including user accounts, phone configurations, call logs, and potentially system administration credentials. The confidentiality breach affects not only individual user data but also organizational communication patterns and business intelligence. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could lead to significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses. The impact is particularly severe given that Cisco Unified Communications Manager serves as a critical component in many organizations' communication networks, where the exposure of database contents could enable further attacks against the broader network infrastructure. The vulnerability also increases the risk of credential theft and lateral movement within the network, as attackers may discover administrative accounts and corresponding passwords stored in the database.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-12302 should implement immediate mitigations to protect their systems from exploitation attempts. The primary remediation involves applying the official Cisco security patches and updates released to address the SQL injection vulnerability in the Unified Communications Manager. Network administrators should also implement web application firewalls and input validation controls to filter malicious SQL content before it reaches the database layer. Access control measures should be enhanced through the implementation of principle of least privilege, ensuring that database users have only necessary permissions for their operational functions. Regular security auditing and monitoring of database access logs should be implemented to detect anomalous SQL query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential injection points within their communication infrastructure and implement proper input sanitization techniques throughout their applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and parameterized queries in preventing SQL injection attacks, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's methodology for database reconnaissance and credential access techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized SQL query execution patterns that could indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.