CVE-2018-0439 in Meeting Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Meeting Server could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack and perform arbitrary actions on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient CSRF protections for the web-based management interface of an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to follow a customized link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform arbitrary actions on an affected device by using a web browser and with the privileges of the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0439 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness within Cisco Meeting Server's web-based management interface. This flaw stems from inadequate CSRF protections that fail to validate the origin of requests submitted through the web interface. The vulnerability exists specifically within the management console where administrative functions are accessible, creating a significant attack surface for remote adversaries who lack authentication credentials. The absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms means that malicious actors can craft deceptive requests that appear legitimate to the server when executed through a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the fundamental principle that web browsers automatically include authentication cookies with requests to the same domain. An attacker can construct a malicious webpage or link containing embedded requests that, when clicked by an authenticated user, execute unauthorized actions on the Cisco Meeting Server. This includes modifying configuration settings, creating new user accounts, or performing administrative tasks that the user has privileges to execute. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince a legitimate user to visit a malicious site or click on a crafted link, but once executed, the malicious requests leverage the user's existing authenticated session to perform unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it allows attackers to compromise the entire management interface of the affected Cisco Meeting Server. This could result in complete system compromise where attackers gain unauthorized access to meeting configurations, user data, and system settings. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cisco Meeting Server for video conferencing and collaboration services, potentially exposing sensitive business communications and disrupting critical meeting infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or device.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected Cisco Meeting Server versions. The remediation process involves applying Cisco's official security patches and updates that introduce proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the management interface to trusted administrative networks only, while implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious request patterns. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and implement multi-factor authentication for management interface access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing attacks. Regular security audits should verify that CSRF protections are properly implemented and that no other web interfaces within the organization suffer from similar weaknesses. The incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and implementing comprehensive security awareness training to prevent successful social engineering attacks that exploit such vulnerabilities.