Media Application Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Original Release Date: August 2, 2011
Last Revised: August 30, 2011
Number: ASA-2011-213
Risk Level: Medium
Advisory Version: 2.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

A flaw was found in one of the Media Application Server listening processes. If a remote attacker was able to successfully establish a connection to this listening process, it would be possible to execute arbitrary code under the context of the SYSTEM user. The Zero Day Initiative project (www.zerodayinitiative.com) has assigned the name ZDI-11-260 to this issue.

Avaya would like to thank the Zero Day Initiative and AbdulAziz Hariri of ThirdEyeTesters for responsibly reporting this vulnerability.

2. Avaya System Products with affected components/packages installed:
Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Aura® Application Server 5300:
  • Media Application Server
1.0, 2.0 Medium MAS 2.0 users install Patch Bundle 10 or later.
MAS 1.0 users upgrade to 1.0.2 (MCP_11.0.0.0_2011-01-07-1526 with MAS QFE patch: QFE-platform-6.0.244-0001.zip), or upgrade to MAS 2.0 with Patch Bundle 10 or later.

Recommended Actions for System Products:
Avaya strongly recommends that customers follow networking and security best practices by implementing firewalls, ACLs, physical security or other appropriate access restrictions. Though Avaya believes such restrictions should always be in place, risk to Avaya products and the surrounding network from this potential vulnerability may be mitigated by ensuring these practices are implemented until such time as an Avaya provided product update or the recommended Avaya action is applied. Further restrictions as deemed necessary based on the customer's security policies may be required during this interim period, but customers should not modify the System Product operating system or application unless the change is approved by Avaya. Making changes that are not approved may void the Avaya product service contract.

Mitigating Factors:

When determining risk, Avaya takes into account many factors as outlined by Avaya's Security Vulnerability Classification Policy. The following table describes factors that mitigate the risk of specific vulnerabilities for affected Avaya products:

Vulnerability Mitigating Factors
ZDI-CAN-1096 This is a medium risk because all known deployments of Media Application Server require mutual TLS authentication to access the service affected by this vulnerability. Media Application Server 2.0 further limits access to the affected service with the use of ACLs.

3. Additional Information:

Additional information may also be available via the Avaya support website and through your Avaya account representative. Please contact your Avaya product support representative, or dial 1-800-242-2121, with any questions.

4. Disclaimer:

ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS". AVAYA INC., ON BEHALF ITSELF AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS "AVAYA"), DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FURTHERMORE, AVAYA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT THE STEPS RECOMMENDED WILL ELIMINATE SECURITY OR VIRUS THREATS TO CUSTOMERS' SYSTEMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AVAYA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION OR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS PROVIDED HEREIN, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, STATUTORY, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF AVAYA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT AFFECT THE SUPPORT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS. SUPPORT FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO BE EXECUTED AS PER EXISTING AGREEMENTS WITH AVAYA.

5. Revision History:

V 1.0 - August 2, 2011 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - August 30, 2011 - Updated the ZDI link.

Send information regarding any discovered security problems with Avaya products to either the contact noted in the product's documentation or securityalerts@avaya.com.

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