CVE-2017-3874 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CallManager) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack. More Information: CSCvb70033. Known Affected Releases: 11.5(1.11007.2). Known Fixed Releases: 12.0(0.98000.507) 11.0(1.23900.5) 11.0(1.23900.3) 10.5(2.15900.2).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3874 resides within Cisco Unified Communications Manager's web framework, specifically targeting the CallManager component that serves as the core communications platform for enterprise voice and video solutions. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks against the system. The vulnerability manifests when the web interface fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it back to the browser, creating an opening for malicious code injection that can compromise the integrity of the communication platform. The affected version 11.5(1.11007.2) demonstrates a particularly concerning exposure as it represents a widely deployed release within enterprise environments where unified communications systems handle sensitive business data and critical communication infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic cross-site scripting pattern where malicious input is accepted through web forms or API endpoints and subsequently rendered without proper sanitization or encoding. The flaw allows an attacker who has already established authentication credentials to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of other users' sessions. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness. The attack vector requires the attacker to be authenticated to the system, which reduces the initial attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, as compromised credentials can provide access to this vulnerability. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious payloads that leverage the web framework's insufficient input validation mechanisms to inject script code that can then be executed in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the unified communications environment. In enterprise settings where Cisco Unified Communications Manager serves as the backbone for voice, video, and collaboration services, such an attack could disrupt critical business operations and potentially lead to the compromise of sensitive communication data. The vulnerability's presence in the web interface means that attackers could manipulate the user experience to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or modify communication settings. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and web application attacks, demonstrating how authenticated access can be leveraged to escalate privileges and compromise system integrity.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the available patches from the fixed releases 12.0(0.98000.507), 11.0(1.23900.5), and 11.0(1.23900.3) which contain the necessary code modifications to address the input validation shortcomings. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the attack surface, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or script injection attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any additional web application vulnerabilities within the unified communications infrastructure. The remediation process must include thorough testing of the patched releases to ensure that the security fixes do not introduce compatibility issues with existing communication services, as the unified communications platform typically handles critical business functions that require high availability and reliability. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the communication infrastructure that may present similar attack vectors.