Cisco Unified Communications Manager: Improper Access Control
CVE-2022-20859 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.3% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 71% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Unified Communications Manager to 14su2 or a later version.
- Update Unified Communications Manager Im And Presence Service to 14.0su2 or a later version.
- Update Unity Connection to 14su2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on tools.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Unified Communications Manager | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Unified Communications Manager | 14.0 up to, but not including, 14su2 | 14su2 |
| Cisco | Unified Communications Manager Im And Presence Service | 14.0 up to, but not including, 14.0su2 | 14.0su2 |
| Cisco | Unity Connection | 14.0 up to, but not including, 14su2 | 14su2 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.5 | Medium | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 9.0 | High | NVD |
Official description
A vulnerability in the Disaster Recovery framework of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), and Cisco Unity Connection could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform certain administrative actions they should not be able to. This vulnerability is due to insufficient access control checks on the affected device. An attacker with read-only privileges could exploit this vulnerability by executing a specific vulnerable command on an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to perform a set of administrative actions they should not be able to.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Unified Communications Manager
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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