CVE-2018-9103 in MiVoice Connect
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the conferencing component of Mitel MiVoice Connect, versions R1707-PREM SP1 (21.84.5535.0) and earlier, and Mitel ST 14.2, versions GA27 (19.49.5200.0) and earlier, could allow an unauthenticated attacker to conduct a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attack due to insufficient validation for the signin.php page. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9103 resides within the conferencing component of Mitel MiVoice Connect and Mitel ST systems, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of web-based communication platforms. This vulnerability affects specific versions of both Mitel MiVoice Connect R1707-PREM SP1 and earlier releases, as well as Mitel ST 14.2 versions GA27 and earlier, creating a widespread risk across enterprise communication infrastructures that rely on these platforms for video conferencing and collaboration services.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation within the signin.php page of the affected systems, creating a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that operates under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This weakness allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, where the scripts are reflected back in the response to the victim's browser. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and sign-in interface, which serves as the primary entry point for users accessing the conferencing services, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring any prior authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive communication data. Attackers can craft malicious links that, when clicked by authenticated users, execute arbitrary scripts in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malware. The reflected nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious payload is immediately reflected back to the user's browser without being stored on the server, making detection more challenging and allowing for rapid exploitation through social engineering techniques such as phishing emails or compromised web links.
The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where adversaries leverage browser-based scripting capabilities to execute malicious code against targeted users. Organizations using these affected Mitel systems face significant risk of unauthorized access to video conferencing sessions, potential exposure of sensitive business communications, and possible lateral movement within network environments if attackers can leverage the compromised sessions to access additional systems. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where these platforms handle confidential business communications, customer data, and sensitive operational information.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patch management for the affected versions, with administrators implementing input validation controls and output encoding measures to prevent script injection attacks. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their communication platforms and implement user education programs to recognize potential phishing attempts that could exploit this vulnerability. Regular monitoring of web application logs for suspicious activity patterns and maintaining up-to-date security patches represent essential defensive measures against this and similar reflected XSS vulnerabilities.