CVE-2017-6722 in Unified Contact Center Express
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) service of Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (UCCx) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to masquerade as a legitimate user, aka a Clear Text Authentication Vulnerability. More Information: CSCuw86638. Known Affected Releases: 10.6(1). Known Fixed Releases: 11.5(1.10000.61).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-6722 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco Unified Contact Center Express XMPP service that fundamentally undermines authentication mechanisms. This weakness exists in the communication protocol handling of the contact center system, where the service fails to properly validate authentication credentials during the XMPP session establishment process. The flaw specifically affects version 10.6(1) of the UCCx platform, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model without requiring valid credentials or prior access privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of authentication tokens within the XMPP service layer. When legitimate users attempt to establish connections to the contact center system through XMPP protocols, the service accepts improperly formatted or forged authentication data, allowing attackers to assume the identity of authorized users. This weakness operates at the application layer of the network stack and specifically targets the authentication handshake process that occurs during XMPP session initiation. The vulnerability enables what cybersecurity professionals categorize as credential manipulation or identity spoofing attacks, where unauthorized parties can seamlessly integrate into the system's user base.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating substantial risks for enterprise communication systems and customer data protection. An attacker exploiting this flaw could potentially monitor, modify, or disrupt communication flows between agents and customers, access sensitive contact center information, and manipulate system configurations. The clear text nature of the authentication process means that credential information flows unencrypted across the network, making it susceptible to interception and replay attacks. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE-312 category for "Sensitive Data Exposure" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for "Phishing" and T1078 for "Valid Accounts" as attackers can leverage stolen or assumed identities to maintain persistent access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. The impact on customer service operations could be severe, as attackers might gain access to real-time customer interactions, personal information, and business-critical communication data. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require specialized tools or advanced technical skills, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security resources. Security teams must understand that this flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the authentication infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within the network and escalate privileges to gain deeper system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6722 focus primarily on immediate remediation through software updates and configuration hardening. The most effective solution involves upgrading affected systems to Cisco UCCx version 11.5(1.10000.61) or later, which incorporates proper authentication validation mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including firewall rules to restrict XMPP traffic, network segmentation to isolate contact center systems, and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous authentication patterns. The implementation of encrypted communication channels and proper access controls for XMPP services should be prioritized to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other system components. Security professionals should also consider conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential authentication weaknesses within the broader contact center infrastructure and ensure compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure authentication mechanisms.