CVE-2012-3055 in WebEx Recording Format Player
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the Cisco WebEx Recording Format (WRF) player T27 L through SP11 EP26, T27 LB through SP21 EP10, T27 LC before SP25 EP11, T27 LD before SP32 CP2, and T28 L10N before SP1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted DHT chunk in a JPEG image within a WRF file, aka Bug ID CSCtz72953.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3055 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within Cisco WebEx Recording Format player software versions spanning multiple release cycles including T27 L through SP11 EP26, T27 LB through SP21 EP10, T27 LC before SP25 EP11, T27 LD before SP32 CP2, and T28 L10N before SP1. This flaw exists in the processing of DHT (Define Huffman Table) chunks within JPEG images embedded in WRF files, creating a remote code execution vector that adversaries can exploit from network locations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue where data written to a buffer exceeds its allocated stack space, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data. The affected Cisco WebEx player implementations process WRF files containing embedded JPEG images without proper bounds checking during DHT chunk parsing, allowing attackers to craft malicious WRF files that trigger the overflow condition when the player attempts to decode the embedded image data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application process, typically resulting in full system compromise when the target system runs the vulnerable WebEx player software. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that adversaries do not require physical access or local network presence to initiate attacks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may unknowingly open malicious WRF files from email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems. The specific nature of the attack vector involves crafting a malicious WRF file containing a specially constructed JPEG image with malformed DHT chunks that, when processed by the vulnerable player, cause the stack buffer overflow to occur. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems, and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the executed code can include various command execution payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3055 require immediate action from organizations to address the vulnerability through software updates, network segmentation, and user awareness measures. Cisco has released patches for affected versions of the WebEx player software, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these security updates to eliminate the buffer overflow condition. Network administrators should implement strict file type filtering and scanning mechanisms to prevent malicious WRF files from reaching end users, particularly in environments where WebEx player usage is common. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing libraries, which should be enforced through defensive programming practices including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of only trusted WebEx player versions and monitor for unusual file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments of multimedia processing components and adherence to secure coding standards that prevent buffer overflow conditions through proper memory management practices and comprehensive input validation routines.