CVE-2012-3057 in WebEx Recording Format Player
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-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 size field in audio data within a WRF file, aka Bug ID CSCtz00755.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3057 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Cisco WebEx Recording Format player implementations across multiple software versions. This flaw exists within the processing of audio data contained within WRF files, specifically when handling crafted size fields that exceed expected boundaries. The affected versions include various iterations of 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, indicating a widespread issue affecting Cisco's WebEx collaboration platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the audio data parsing routine, where the application fails to properly verify the size parameter before allocating heap memory for audio samples.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious WRF file containing audio data with an oversized size field that triggers a heap buffer overflow condition. This condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that memory corruption occurs in the heap memory space rather than on the stack, making exploitation more complex but still highly dangerous. The vulnerability specifically targets the audio processing components of the WebEx player, where the application reads audio data fields without adequate bounds checking, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Cisco WebEx for collaboration and presentation sharing. Attackers could exploit this flaw by sending malicious WRF files through email attachments, web downloads, or collaboration platforms, potentially compromising endpoints without user interaction. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, enabling widespread exploitation across networked environments. Organizations using WebEx for business presentations, training sessions, and collaborative meetings face potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially enable lateral movement within networks, as compromised systems could serve as launch points for broader attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3057 should include immediate application of Cisco's security patches and updates released for affected versions of the WebEx player software. Network administrators should implement strict file validation policies that prevent execution of untrusted WRF files, particularly those received through email or downloaded from unverified sources. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual network traffic patterns or file access behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, ensuring that WebEx systems operate in restricted network zones. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a technique commonly categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0002 (Execution) and technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript). Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing applications, highlighting the need for robust defensive programming techniques and regular security assessments of third-party components.