CVE-2017-3821 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the serviceability page of Cisco Unified Communications Manager could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. More Information: CSCvc49348. Known Affected Releases: 10.5(2.14076.1). Known Fixed Releases: 12.0(0.98000.209) 12.0(0.98000.478) 12.0(0.98000.609).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3821 resides within the serviceability page of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, representing a critical security flaw that exposes organizations to remote code execution risks through reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects version 10.5(2.14076.1) and has been subsequently addressed in multiple fixed releases including 12.0(0.98000.209), 12.0(0.98000.478), and 12.0(0.98000.609). The serviceability page serves as a diagnostic and troubleshooting interface within the unified communications platform, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit weaknesses in the system's web-based management components.
The technical flaw manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when the serviceability page fails to properly sanitize user input parameters before reflecting them back to the browser. An attacker can craft malicious URLs containing specially crafted script payloads that, when executed by a victim's browser, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands within the context of the victim's session. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script code is reflected off the web server back to the victim's browser, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no persistent storage of malicious code on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the Cisco Unified Communications Manager administrative interface. This access could potentially allow for complete system compromise, enabling attackers to modify call routing, intercept communications, or deploy additional malicious payloads within the network infrastructure. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no valid credentials are required to exploit the vulnerability, significantly increasing the attack surface and reducing the barriers to successful exploitation. Organizations relying on Cisco Unified Communications Manager for their voice and video communication infrastructure face substantial risk of unauthorized access and potential disruption of critical business communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3821 should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched releases mentioned in the advisory, specifically versions 12.0(0.98000.209), 12.0(0.98000.478), and 12.0(0.98000.609). Network administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls, input validation controls, and regular security assessments of web-based management interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category, which covers command and scripting interpreters, as attackers could potentially use the XSS vulnerability to execute malicious commands within the browser context. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the serviceability page and establish monitoring protocols to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of unified communications platforms are essential to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader attack surface.