Cisco Security Advisory-
Cisco Unity Express (CUE) contains a vulnerability that might allow an authenticated user to change the password for another user by using the HTTP management interface, if the password for the user being modified is marked as expired. This can result in a privilege escalation attack and complete administrative control of a CUE module, if the password being changed belongs to an administrator.
There are mitigations for this vulnerability.
Cisco has made free software available to address this vulnerability for affected customers.
This advisory is posted at https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20060501-cue.
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This section provides details on affected products.
Vulnerable Products
Any CUE Advanced Integration Module (AIM) or Network Module (NM) running CUE software versions prior to 2.3(1) is affected by this vulnerability.
The version of software running on a CUE module can be determined using the show software versions command in the CUE command line interface or by selecting Help > About in the HTTP management interface.
cue-10-0-0-1# show software versions Installed Packages: - Bootloader (Primary) 2.1.2 - Global 2.2.0 - GPL Infrastructure 2.1.2 - Voice Mail 2.1.2 - Bootloader (Secondary) 2.1.2 - Installer 2.1.1 - Core 2.1.2 - Auto Attendant 2.1.2 Installed Languages: - US English 2.1.0 Installed Languages: - US English 1.1.1
The CUE version is determined by the Global package.
Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable
No other Cisco products, including Cisco Unity, are currently known to be affected this vulnerability.
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Cisco Unity Express (CUE) is an optional hardware module designed for use with Cisco modular routers to provide voice mail and automated attendant services. The HTTP management interface of a CUE module allows authenticated users to change their password. This vulnerability allows authenticated users to change the password for any user with an expired password. If an administrator's account has expired, the administrator's password can be changed allowing an unprivileged user to gain complete administrative control of a CUE module.
There are three ways for a user to have an expired password.
- Newly created users with blank passwords. CUE treats blank passwords as expired. This feature was introduced in CUE software version 1.1(1).
- Newly created users with a randomly selected password. Administrators can elect to have a random password assigned when creating new users. CUE treats the random passwords as expired. This feature was introduced in CUE software version 1.1(1).
- If the system-wide password expiry feature is enabled, user passwords can be configured to expire after a specified number of days. Users with expired passwords are required to change their password. This feature was introduced in CUE software version 2.1(1).
The vulnerability is documented in the following Cisco Bug ID:
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CSCsd50387
(
registered customers only)
Cisco Unity Express Expired Password Reset Privilege Escalation
- Newly created users with blank passwords. CUE treats blank passwords as expired. This feature was introduced in CUE software version 1.1(1).
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It is possible to mitigate this vulnerability by restricting access to the HTTP management interface to trusted management hosts with an access control list (ACL) applied on the router hosting the CUE module. This will prevent users from accessing some CUE functionality such as setting their display name. Users can continue to access their voice mail and perform a limited number of configuration changes such as updating their personal identification number (PIN). Management functions can be performed using the CUE command line interface.
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When considering software upgrades, also consult http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt and any subsequent advisories to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution.
In all cases, customers should exercise caution to be certain the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center ("TAC") or your contracted maintenance provider for assistance.
Fixed software can be downloaded at http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/cue-231?psrtdcat20e2.
Affected Releases
First Fixed Release
All CUE releases up to 2.2(2)
2.3(1)
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The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability described in this advisory.
This vulnerability was reported to Cisco by Xu He and Keith Vaughan of the Bank of America Application Assessment Team.
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To learn about Cisco security vulnerability disclosure policies and publications, see the Security Vulnerability Policy. This document also contains instructions for obtaining fixed software and receiving security vulnerability information from Cisco.
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