CVE-2013-1244 in WebEx Social
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the portal module in Cisco WebEx Social allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a javascript: URL in the link field in a post, aka Bug ID CSCue67199.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-1244 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco WebEx Social's portal module that enables authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through manipulated javascript: URLs. This vulnerability specifically targets the link field processing mechanism within user posts, creating a pathway for persistent malicious code injection that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The issue manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user input containing javascript protocol URLs, allowing attackers to bypass security controls and inject harmful content into shared posts.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a reflected XSS variant that occurs in web applications where user-supplied data is improperly validated or escaped before being rendered back to other users. The flaw exploits the lack of proper input sanitization in the portal module's handling of link fields, creating an environment where malicious actors can leverage legitimate user authentication to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and further exploitation of the compromised user accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant within enterprise environments that rely on Cisco WebEx Social for collaboration and communication. Attackers with valid user credentials can manipulate posts to inject malicious code that executes whenever other users view the affected content, potentially leading to widespread compromise across the organization. The vulnerability's persistence is particularly concerning as the injected scripts remain active until manually removed from the platform, creating a long-term threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly by attackers. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the social collaboration platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1244 should include immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization controls that properly escape or reject javascript: URLs in link fields. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while also implementing proper output encoding for all user-generated content. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious links, making it essential for security teams to monitor user activity and implement comprehensive logging of post creation and modification. Cisco released patches addressing this vulnerability in their WebEx Social platform, and organizations should prioritize updating to versions that contain these security fixes while also implementing additional security controls such as content security policies that prevent execution of inline scripts and restrict the use of javascript: URLs in user input fields.