CVE-2017-3829 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Unified Communications Manager Switches could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device. More Information: CSCvc30999. Known Affected Releases: 12.0(0.98000.280). Known Fixed Releases: 11.0(1.23900.3) 12.0(0.98000.180) 12.0(0.98000.422) 12.0(0.98000.541) 12.0(0.98000.6).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3829 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web-based management interface of Cisco Unified Communications Manager Switches. This security weakness exists in the authentication mechanism of the device's web interface, creating a pathway for unauthenticated remote attackers to execute malicious scripts against unsuspecting users who interact with the management console. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of user input within the web interface components, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web interface components of the affected Cisco switches. When users navigate to certain pages within the management interface, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This allows an attacker to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands within the context of the authenticated user's session. The flaw manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains leading to complete compromise of the management interface. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the switch management console, potentially gaining administrative privileges or using the compromised session to pivot into the broader network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects specific versions of Cisco Unified Communications Manager Switches, particularly version 12.0(0.98000.280) and related releases, making organizations running these versions particularly susceptible to exploitation. The security implications are exacerbated by the fact that no authentication is required for the attack, making it accessible to any remote user who can reach the management interface.
Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through multiple software releases, with version 11.0(1.23900.3) and subsequent releases 12.0(0.98000.180), 12.0(0.98000.422), and 12.0(0.98000.541) containing the necessary patches to prevent the XSS exploitation. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to these fixed versions to eliminate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for scripting, particularly when considering the potential for attackers to establish persistent access through compromised management interfaces. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of web interface access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts, as well as consider network segmentation to limit access to these management interfaces to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for network infrastructure components and demonstrates how seemingly minor web interface flaws can lead to significant security compromises in enterprise communication systems.