CVE-2021-32069 in MiCollab
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2021
The AWV component of Mitel MiCollab before 9.3 could allow an attacker to perform a Man-In-the-Middle attack due to improper TLS negotiation. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to view and modify data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2021
The CVE-2021-32069 vulnerability affects the AWV component of Mitel MiCollab versions prior to 9.3, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of secure communications within enterprise collaboration platforms. This vulnerability specifically targets the Transport Layer Security (TLS) negotiation process, which serves as the foundation for establishing encrypted connections between clients and servers in modern networked applications. The flaw enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by exploiting weaknesses in how the system handles TLS protocol negotiations, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data exchanged through the platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of TLS version negotiation and cipher suite selection within the AWV component. When legitimate users attempt to establish secure connections to the Mitel MiCollab system, the vulnerable implementation may downgrade to weaker TLS versions or accept insecure cipher suites that are susceptible to cryptographic attacks. This weakness allows attackers positioned between the client and server to intercept, modify, or steal data transmitted through the compromised communication channel. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level and can be exploited without requiring authentication credentials from the victim, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where sensitive business data and communications are routinely exchanged.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on Mitel MiCollab for their collaboration needs. The potential for data interception and modification means that confidential business communications, personal employee information, and proprietary corporate data could be compromised. Attackers could gain access to sensitive conversations, document exchanges, and other collaborative content that would normally be protected by encryption. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of the platform, potentially exposing organizations to financial loss, regulatory violations, and reputational damage. Organizations utilizing this software may face compliance challenges with data protection regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, and other privacy frameworks that mandate robust encryption controls.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses broken cryptographic system implementations, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Mitel MiCollab version 9.3 or later, which contains the necessary TLS negotiation improvements. Network administrators should also deploy monitoring solutions to detect unusual TLS handshake patterns and implement strict certificate pinning mechanisms. Additional protective measures include configuring firewalls to restrict access to the affected component, enabling detailed logging of TLS connection attempts, and conducting thorough security assessments of the entire collaboration platform to identify potential secondary vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive staff training on recognizing and reporting suspicious network activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.