CVE-2009-2876 in WebEx
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in atas32.dll in the Cisco WebEx WRF Player 26.x before 26.49.32 (aka T26SP49EP32) for Windows, 27.x before 27.10.x (aka T27SP10) 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 execute arbitrary code via a crafted WebEx Recording Format (WRF) file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2878 and CVE-2009-2879.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2876 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the atas32.dll component of Cisco WebEx WRF Player software across multiple versions and operating systems. This flaw exists within the handling of WebEx Recording Format files, which are commonly used for storing and sharing video recordings from Cisco WebEx meetings and presentations. The affected versions include specific releases of the WebEx Player for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms, making this vulnerability particularly widespread given the extensive deployment of Cisco WebEx solutions in enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the memory allocation routines of the atas32.dll library. When processing a specially crafted WRF file, the application fails to validate the size of incoming data before copying it into heap-allocated buffers. This allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with controlled data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crash. The heap-based nature of the overflow indicates that the vulnerability occurs in dynamically allocated memory regions, making exploitation more complex but also more dangerous as it can corrupt critical runtime structures and potentially bypass modern memory protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where WebEx is widely deployed for collaboration and training purposes, as these systems often contain sensitive business information and may be directly connected to internal networks. The vulnerability affects multiple platform versions, increasing the attack surface significantly and making it more difficult for organizations to patch effectively across their heterogeneous computing environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling automatic playback of WRF files, restricting user access to potentially malicious file types, and deploying network-based protections such as intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block malicious WRF file traffic. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a variant of the broader class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that attackers frequently target for privilege escalation and persistent access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of initial access or execution tactics, potentially enabling lateral movement and privilege escalation within compromised networks, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive security measures including regular patch management, user education, and network segmentation to limit potential attack impact.