CVE-2018-0403 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 retrieve a cleartext password. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg71040.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0403 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 remote access capabilities to configure and manage contact center services, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to enterprise communication infrastructure. The flaw resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the web interface, specifically in how it handles password retrieval processes. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring any credentials or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard security controls that protect against unauthorized access attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of authentication requests within the web management interface. When an attacker sends specific crafted requests to the Unified CCX interface, the system inadvertently returns cleartext passwords in its responses. This represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices and demonstrates poor separation between authentication mechanisms and data exposure controls. The vulnerability allows for the extraction of sensitive credentials that could be used to gain full administrative access to the contact center system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the communication infrastructure. This flaw aligns with CWE-522, which addresses insufficiently protected credentials, and reflects poor implementation of access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized data disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates a pathway for attackers to establish persistent access to enterprise communication systems. Once an attacker obtains cleartext passwords, they can perform various malicious activities including modifying contact center configurations, monitoring agent communications, accessing customer data, and potentially using the compromised credentials to pivot to other systems within the network. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or system. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. The potential for data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized surveillance makes this a critical security concern for organizations relying on Cisco Unified CCX for their contact center operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates that address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the Unified CCX interface to trusted networks only. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the broader network infrastructure. The implementation of network monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms and privileged access management controls to reduce the impact of credential compromise. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and following security best practices including regular patch management, proper network architecture design, and continuous monitoring of critical systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under credential access techniques, specifically targeting the extraction of stored credentials through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.