CVE-2018-0445 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 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 a targeted device via a web browser and with the privileges of the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0445 represents a critical security weakness in Cisco Packaged Contact Center Enterprise systems that exposes organizations to unauthorized administrative actions through cross-site request forgery attacks. This flaw specifically targets the web-based management interface, which serves as the primary administrative portal for configuring and managing contact center operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate protection mechanisms that fail to validate the origin of requests submitted through the web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate legitimate user sessions and execute unauthorized commands.
This security weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities. The flaw enables attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the web interface and authenticated users by crafting malicious links that, when clicked, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable system. The attack requires minimal privileges as it operates entirely within the context of an authenticated user session, making it particularly dangerous since users may unknowingly execute harmful actions while browsing compromised websites or receiving malicious email attachments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to perform arbitrary actions with the privileges of the compromised user, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to modify critical system configurations, create new user accounts, alter call routing, and potentially disrupt business operations. Organizations relying on Cisco Packaged Contact Center Enterprise for customer service operations face significant risk of service disruption, data manipulation, and potential information disclosure. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or direct system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects call center environments where continuous operation and data integrity are critical, as unauthorized modifications could lead to service degradation or complete system unavailability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0445 should prioritize immediate implementation of available security patches provided by Cisco, which typically include enhanced CSRF token validation mechanisms and additional request origin verification. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only, while regular monitoring of system logs can help detect unauthorized activities. Security awareness training for administrators is crucial to prevent social engineering attacks that might be used to deliver malicious links. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, and establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar weaknesses in other network components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213 - Data from Information Repositories, as exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to system configuration data and operational information.