CVE-2017-6621 in Prime Collaboration Provisioning
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive data. The attacker could use this information to conduct additional reconnaissance attacks. The vulnerability is due to insufficient protection of sensitive data when responding to an HTTP request on the web interface. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the application to access specific system files. An exploit could allow the attacker to obtain sensitive information about the application which could include user credentials. This vulnerability affects Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning Software Releases 10.6 through 11.5. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc99626.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6621 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning software that exposes sensitive system information to unauthenticated remote attackers. This weakness exists within the web interface component of the application and stems from inadequate protection mechanisms when processing HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically affects versions 10.6 through 11.5 of the software, making a substantial portion of Cisco's collaboration provisioning solutions susceptible to exploitation. The flaw allows attackers to bypass authentication requirements and directly access system files through carefully crafted HTTP requests, fundamentally undermining the security model of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient data protection during HTTP response handling, which aligns with CWE-200 - "Information Exposure" and CWE-352 - "Cross-Site Request Forgery" categories. When the web interface processes requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the responses, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data that should remain protected. Attackers can exploit this by sending malicious HTTP requests designed to probe specific system files and directories, potentially revealing user credentials, system configurations, and other confidential information. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway involves leveraging the application's response mechanisms to extract data that would normally be restricted to authenticated users or system processes, creating a significant information disclosure risk.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6621 extends beyond simple data exposure, as the leaked information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the targeted network. Once an attacker obtains user credentials or system configuration details, they can conduct additional reconnaissance activities to map network topology, identify other vulnerable systems, and potentially escalate privileges within the collaboration environment. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality, as sensitive data is exposed without proper authentication. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning typically manages critical communication infrastructure, making the extracted information valuable for advanced persistent threats. The vulnerability also affects the availability aspect of security by potentially enabling attackers to disrupt collaboration services through knowledge of system internals.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning software to versions that address the insufficient data protection mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web interface, particularly restricting external access to administrative functions. Additional defensive measures include deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP requests, implementing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments of the collaboration infrastructure. Security teams should also establish monitoring protocols to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should follow industry standards including NIST SP 800-53 controls for information system security and the MITRE ATT&CK framework's approach to identifying and mitigating information gathering tactics that attackers might employ through such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain comprehensive audit trails of system access and configuration changes.