CVE-2009-2875 in WebEx
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in atas32.dll in the Cisco WebEx WRF Player 26.x before 26.49.32 for Windows, 27.x before 27.10.x for Windows, 26.x before 26.49.35 for Mac OS X and Linux, and 27.x before 27.11.8 for Mac OS X and Linux allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted WebEx Recording Format (WRF) file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2875 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Cisco WebEx WRF Player software ecosystem, specifically affecting the atas32.dll component across multiple platform versions. This vulnerability exists in the WebEx Recording Format player software that handles multimedia content delivery through the WRF file format, which is commonly used for recording and sharing web conferencing sessions. The affected versions span across both Windows and Unix-based operating systems including Mac OS X and Linux platforms, with different patch thresholds for each operating system family.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the atas32.dll library when processing maliciously crafted WRF files. When a victim opens a specially constructed WRF file, the software fails to validate the size or structure of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to application instability or complete system compromise. The flaw manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow that occurs during the parsing of WRF file headers and metadata sections, where insufficient input validation permits excessive data to be written beyond allocated buffer boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the WebEx WRF Player application, which typically runs with elevated permissions due to its multimedia processing requirements. The attack vector requires only the delivery of a malicious WRF file through social engineering or direct download, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open compromised files. The vulnerability affects the core multimedia processing functionality of the WebEx platform, potentially disrupting critical business communications and collaboration workflows.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory software updates to the patched versions referenced in the CVE advisory, which specifically addresses the buffer overflow conditions in atas32.dll. Network administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of the vulnerable WebEx WRF Player components until full patches are deployed across all endpoints. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical attack surface that could be exploited through the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for exploitation of remote services. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious WRF file content patterns, while conducting regular vulnerability assessments to ensure complete remediation across all affected platforms and versions.