CVE-2018-0355 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-frame scripting (XFS) attack against the user of the web UI of an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient protections for HTML inline frames (iframes) by the web UI of the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the affected UI to navigate to an attacker-controlled web page that contains a malicious HTML iframe. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to conduct click-jacking or other client-side browser attacks on the affected system. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg19761.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0355 resides within the web user interface of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, a critical component in enterprise communication infrastructure. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that undermines the integrity of the web-based administrative interface, potentially exposing organizations to sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically targets the insufficient protection mechanisms implemented for HTML inline frames, commonly known as iframes, which are fundamental elements in modern web applications for embedding external content within web pages. The affected system's web UI fails to properly sanitize or restrict iframe content, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors without requiring any authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on a cross-frame scripting attack methodology that operates through the manipulation of HTML iframe elements within web browsers. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially designed iframe content that, when viewed by an authenticated user of the affected Cisco Unified Communications Manager web UI, can execute unauthorized actions within the context of the target application. This particular attack vector falls under the category of client-side exploitation where the vulnerability exists in the browser rendering layer rather than in server-side processing. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass the normal security boundaries that should exist between different frames or contexts within the web application, creating a scenario where malicious content can interact with legitimate application functionality. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-74, which addresses "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component," and more specifically to CWE-79, which covers "Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities." The attack mechanism aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as it exploits the web browser's scripting capabilities to execute malicious code within the context of the target application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or unauthorized access, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited to conduct more sophisticated attacks such as click-jacking operations. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate user interactions with the web UI, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative actions, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the communication infrastructure. The attack requires minimal privileges from the attacker's perspective since no authentication is needed to initiate the exploitation process, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access to communication systems is critical. Organizations utilizing Cisco Unified Communications Manager are at risk of having their administrative interfaces compromised, potentially leading to disruption of voice services, unauthorized configuration changes, or complete takeover of the communication system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the web UI, which is often accessible from various network locations and may be used by multiple administrators, creating a wide attack surface. The specific Cisco bug ID CSCvg19761 identifies this as a known issue within the vendor's tracking system, indicating that it was recognized and documented by Cisco as a security concern requiring remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate implementation of web application firewall rules that can detect and block malicious iframe content, as well as ensuring that all users access the web UI through secure, encrypted connections. Organizations should implement strict access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure of the affected web UI to untrusted networks. Browser security enhancements such as content security policy headers and frame-busting techniques can provide additional protection layers against exploitation attempts. The most effective long-term solution involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the underlying iframe protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns in web UI access or attempts to load external iframe content. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential variations or additional vulnerabilities that may exist in the web application environment. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions within enterprise communication systems.