CVE-2019-1911 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager Restricted Shell Escape Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2019-1911

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the command-line interface (CLI) of Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager (Cisco Unified CDM) Software that allows a local, authenticated attacker to break out of the limited shell.

What is CVE-2019-1911?

The flaw in the CLI of Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager Software arises from inadequate validation of shell commands, enabling an attacker to execute specially crafted commands in the shell.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1911

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow the attacker to bypass the restricted shell and access commands within the scope of the restricted shell user, lacking administrative privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1911

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a local, authenticated attacker to escape the restricted shell due to insufficient input validation of shell commands.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager
Vendor: Cisco
Versions Affected: Less than 11.5(3)PB4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
CVSS Base Score: 5.3 (Medium Severity)
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary security patches provided by Cisco.
Monitor Cisco's security advisories for updates and recommendations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations.
Conduct security training for staff to recognize and respond to potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all systems running Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager are updated with the latest patches.