CVE-2018-0444 in Packaged Contact Center Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Packaged Contact Center Enterprise could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a stored XSS attack against a user of the interface. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to click a customized link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the interface or access sensitive browser-based information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0444 affects Cisco Packaged Contact Center Enterprise, a comprehensive customer service solution designed for large-scale contact center operations. This web-based management interface serves as the primary administrative portal for configuring and monitoring contact center services, making it a critical component in enterprise communications infrastructure. The flaw resides within the interface's input validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise system security through sophisticated social engineering techniques.
This vulnerability represents a classic stored cross-site scripting flaw that falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where user-supplied data is improperly validated or sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The weakness occurs because the web interface fails to adequately sanitize user input, allowing malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed when other users access the affected interface. The vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature significantly amplifies its threat potential, as attackers need only persuade victims to click malicious links rather than requiring direct system access or credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0444 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially escalate privileges within the web interface context. Attackers can craft malicious links that, when clicked by authenticated users, execute arbitrary code in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the contact center infrastructure. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once a malicious payload is injected, it persists and affects all subsequent users who interact with the compromised interface elements.
Organizations utilizing Cisco Packaged Contact Center Enterprise face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where multiple administrators access the web interface or where users may be targeted through spear-phishing campaigns. The attack vector leverages social engineering principles from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the web application attack surface through user interaction techniques. Effective mitigation requires immediate patch deployment from Cisco, combined with network segmentation strategies to limit exposure and user education to recognize suspicious links. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and monitor for unusual access patterns in their contact center management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the potential for seemingly minor security flaws to create substantial operational risks in enterprise communication systems.