CVE-2018-0401 in Unified Contact Center Express
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against a user of the interface. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg70967.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0401 affects Cisco Unified Contact Center Express, a web-based management interface that serves as a critical component for contact center operations. This system provides administrators with a graphical interface to configure and manage contact center services, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise communication infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically resides within the web interface components that handle user input processing and output rendering, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the system.
The technical flaw manifests as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session. This occurs when the web interface fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 indicates a failure in input validation and output encoding, where the application does not adequately escape or filter user-controllable data before rendering it in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on Cisco Unified CCX for their contact center operations. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive customer data, manipulate contact center configurations, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior credentials are required to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the affected system. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting web application interfaces.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the input validation deficiencies in the web interface components. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit access to the Unified CCX management interface, ensuring that only authorized administrative personnel can reach the vulnerable components. Input validation controls should be strengthened at the application level to ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in web applications, aligning with industry standards that emphasize the need for comprehensive security testing and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent exploitation of similar flaws in enterprise systems.