CVE-2021-34701 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-34701, a vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications products allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data. Find out the impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME), Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence Service (Unified CM IM&P), and Cisco Unity Connection could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive data on an affected device by exploiting a directory traversal flaw.
Understanding CVE-2021-34701
This CVE describes a security vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications products that could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive files.
What is CVE-2021-34701?
The vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Unified Communications products allows a remote attacker to gain access to sensitive data by sending crafted HTTP requests with directory traversal sequences.
The Impact of CVE-2021-34701
If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could enable an attacker to access critical files on the affected system, compromising data confidentiality.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-34701
This section provides a deeper insight into the vulnerability's description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw arises due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface, facilitating unauthorized data access through crafted HTTP requests.
Affected Systems and Versions
Cisco Unity Connection is impacted by this vulnerability, with all versions being susceptible to exploitation.
Exploitation Mechanism
An authenticated attacker can exploit this flaw by sending malicious HTTP requests containing specific directory traversal character sequences to the target system.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2021-34701, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the importance of applying patches and updates are detailed below.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to restrict network access to affected devices, monitor for suspicious activities, and apply relevant security updates promptly.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing secure coding practices and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Patching and Updates
It is crucial for organizations to stay informed about security advisories from Cisco and promptly apply patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.