CVE-2017-3877 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CallManager) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack against a user of the web interface of the affected software. More Information: CSCvb70021. Known Affected Releases: 11.5(1.11007.2).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-3877 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within Cisco Unified Communications Manager's web framework, specifically affecting version 11.5(1.11007.2). This vulnerability exposes the affected system to unauthorized remote exploitation by malicious actors who can manipulate authenticated sessions through deceptive web requests. The flaw exists in the web interface component of the CallManager software, which serves as the primary administrative portal for managing unified communications services. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the web application's session management mechanisms. This type of flaw allows attackers to perform actions such as modifying user accounts, changing system configurations, or executing administrative commands through carefully crafted malicious web requests that target authenticated users.
The technical exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to craft malicious web pages or links that, when visited by an authenticated user, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable Cisco Unified Communications Manager interface. The attack vector operates through the browser's automatic handling of cookies and session data, where the web application fails to properly verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain. This weakness specifically impacts the web-based administrative interface of the CallManager system, which handles sensitive configuration management and user account operations. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the core communication management platform, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt voice and video communication services, modify user permissions, or gain unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure. The flaw demonstrates a failure in implementing proper origin validation checks and anti-CSRF token mechanisms that are fundamental to web application security practices.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete compromise of the unified communications infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability can potentially disrupt critical business communications, modify user permissions, or gain access to sensitive network configuration data. The vulnerability affects the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the communication services managed by Cisco Unified Communications Manager, as it allows unauthorized modifications to system settings that could impact network operations. Organizations using affected versions of the software face significant risk of service disruption, data integrity violations, and potential escalation to more severe attacks that could compromise the broader network infrastructure. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where unified communications systems serve as critical infrastructure components for business operations and collaboration services.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Cisco's patched versions of the software, enabling proper CSRF protection mechanisms, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web interface. Security controls should include implementing proper anti-CSRF token validation, enforcing strict origin checking on web requests, and ensuring that administrative interfaces are not directly accessible from untrusted networks. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious request patterns that could indicate CSRF attack attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and initial access through web application exploitation. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their unified communications infrastructure to identify any additional vulnerabilities that could be exploited in conjunction with this CSRF flaw, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors targeting the same infrastructure components.