CVE-2019-12705 in TelePresence Video Communication Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Expressway Series and Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of the affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to click a malicious link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive browser-based information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12705 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web-based management interfaces of Cisco Expressway Series and Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server devices. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing within the web interface. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on these communication platforms for video conferencing and collaboration services, potentially exposing their network infrastructure to malicious exploitation attempts. The flaw specifically resides in the validation controls of the web management interface, which do not adequately filter or escape user-provided parameters that are subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious link that, when clicked by an authenticated user of the affected system's web interface, would execute arbitrary script code within the victim's browser context. This type of attack falls under the category of persistent cross-site scripting as described by CWE-79, where the malicious input is stored on the server and then served to other users. The attack vector leverages social engineering techniques to trick users into interacting with malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrators frequently interact with web-based management interfaces. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute scripts in the context of the affected interface, potentially allowing them to access sensitive session information, credentials, or other browser-based data that the interface might expose.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it could provide attackers with unauthorized access to administrative functions and sensitive system information. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges, access confidential communications data, or manipulate the configuration of the video communication servers. This risk is particularly significant for organizations that depend on these systems for critical business communications, as the compromise of such infrastructure could disrupt services or provide attackers with a foothold for further network infiltration. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells, and T1566, which involves social engineering via malicious links. Organizations using these Cisco VCS products face potential exposure to advanced persistent threats that could leverage this weakness to maintain long-term access to their communication infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12705 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems through Cisco's security advisories, as well as implementing network segmentation to limit access to the web management interfaces. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls and input validation controls to detect and prevent malicious payloads from reaching the vulnerable interfaces. Regular security assessments of web-based management interfaces should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses, and administrative users should be trained to recognize and avoid suspicious links that might be used in social engineering attacks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual access patterns or script execution attempts within the web interface logs should be implemented as part of the overall security posture to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and output encoding practices as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project and aligns with CIS Controls that emphasize secure configuration and vulnerability management.