CVE-2018-0354 in Unity Connection
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework of Cisco Unity Connection could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against the user of the web interface of an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of certain parameters that are passed to the affected software via the HTTP GET and HTTP POST methods. An attacker who can convince a user to follow an attacker-supplied link could execute arbitrary script or HTML code in the user's browser in the context of an affected site. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf76417.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0354 affects Cisco Unity Connection, a unified communications platform that integrates voice mail, email, and messaging services. This web framework vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the application's user interface and exposes end users to potential malicious attacks. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web application's processing pipeline, specifically targeting parameters received through standard HTTP methods. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates without requiring any authentication credentials from the attacker, making it accessible to any remote user who can influence a target's browsing behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input data that flows through HTTP GET and POST request handlers within the Cisco Unity Connection web interface. When the application processes these requests without proper validation or encoding of input parameters, it creates an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed within the victim's browser context. This type of flaw directly aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector specifically leverages the trust relationship between the user's browser and the legitimate web application, allowing attackers to execute code in the user's session context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, and access sensitive information within the scope of the affected application. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing crafted payloads that, when clicked by a victim, will execute in the victim's browser within the context of the legitimate Cisco Unity Connection session. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the platform for business-critical communications, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to voice mail systems, email integration features, and potentially escalate to broader network access depending on the user's privileges and the application's configuration. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables execution of malicious scripts within the victim's browser environment.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability effectively. The primary remediation approach involves applying the official Cisco security patches released to address this specific flaw, which typically include enhanced input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Additional mitigations include disabling unnecessary web interface access where possible, implementing strict browser security policies, and conducting regular security awareness training for users to recognize suspicious links that might be used in phishing attacks targeting this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such weaknesses from reaching production environments.