CVE-2021-1380 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 04/08/2021
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), and Cisco Unity Connection could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against an interface user. These vulnerabilities exist because the web-based management interface does not properly validate user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by persuading an interface user to click a crafted 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 • 04/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-1380 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple Cisco unified communications platforms including Unified CM, Unified CM IM&P, Unified CM SME, and Cisco Unity Connection. This weakness exists within the web-based management interfaces of these systems, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by unauthenticated remote adversaries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web interfaces, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing or rendering it within the application context. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of authenticated users interacting with the management interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious links and persuade target users to click them, leveraging the principle of social engineering to achieve initial access. This approach aligns with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access techniques where adversaries leverage user interaction to deliver malicious payloads. The lack of proper input validation creates a pathway for attackers to inject script code that executes within the browser context of the affected interface, potentially enabling full compromise of the user session. This vulnerability specifically falls under CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to sensitive browser-based information and potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or access confidential communication data through the compromised management interfaces. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges for exploitation, as the vulnerability is accessible to unauthenticated attackers who only need to convince a legitimate user to interact with a malicious link. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators or users regularly access the management interfaces, as a single compromised session could provide extended access to the entire communication infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1380 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems through Cisco's security advisories and updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces to trusted administrative networks only, while also deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation policies, enabling content security policies to restrict script execution, and conducting regular security awareness training to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project, particularly addressing the risk of injection flaws that remain among the most prevalent security weaknesses in web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect anomalous user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against these interfaces.