CVE-2021-1226 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2021
A vulnerability in the audit logging component of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition, Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service, Cisco Unity Connection, Cisco Emergency Responder, and Cisco Prime License Manager could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive information in clear text on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to the storage of certain unencrypted credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by accessing the audit logs on an affected system and obtaining credentials that they may not normally have access to. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to use those credentials to discover and manage network devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2021
This vulnerability resides within the audit logging functionality of multiple Cisco communication and management platforms including Unified Communications Manager, Session Management Edition, IM & Presence Service, Unity Connection, Emergency Responder, and Prime License Manager. The security flaw stems from the improper handling of sensitive authentication data within audit log files, creating a critical exposure point for authenticated remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where certain credentials are stored in unencrypted format within audit logs, violating fundamental security principles of credential protection and access control. This represents a classic case of insufficient data protection mechanisms in audit systems, where sensitive information is not adequately secured even within the confines of system logging infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental weakness in how these Cisco products handle credential storage during audit logging operations. When authentication events occur within the system, certain credential information is written to audit log files without proper encryption or obfuscation mechanisms. This creates an attack surface where an authenticated remote attacker can access these log files and extract sensitive information in clear text format. The flaw operates at the data storage level rather than through network protocols or application interfaces, making it particularly insidious as it bypasses normal authentication controls that would otherwise prevent unauthorized access to system resources. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling and storage practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to network devices and systems. Once an attacker obtains the clear text credentials through audit log access, they can leverage these to authenticate to other network components, potentially leading to widespread compromise of the communication infrastructure. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the affected system, which significantly lowers the barrier for exploitation compared to attacks requiring additional reconnaissance or privilege escalation techniques. This vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege and creates a persistent backdoor mechanism that can be exploited repeatedly, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these systems typically operate with elevated privileges.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced log file access controls, regular audit log monitoring, and credential rotation procedures to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves configuring audit log storage to use encrypted storage mechanisms and implementing strict access controls to prevent unauthorized access to log files. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege enforcement should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of credential exposure. Additionally, organizations should establish automated monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to audit log files and implement regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing audit and logging infrastructure as part of overall security posture management, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.001 for indicator removal and T1562.001 for disable or modify tools, as attackers could potentially use these credentials to modify system configurations or disable security controls.