CVE-2013-1245 in WebEx Social
Summary
by MITRE
The user-management page in Cisco WebEx Social relies on client-side validation of values in the Screen Name, First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Email Address, and Job Title fields, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions via crafted requests, aka Bug ID CSCue67190.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1245 resides within Cisco WebEx Social's user management functionality, specifically targeting the client-side validation mechanisms implemented for several critical user profile fields. This weakness represents a classic example of insecure client-side validation that undermines the security posture of the application by allowing malicious actors to manipulate data inputs that should be strictly controlled by server-side validation processes. The affected fields include Screen Name, First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Email Address, and Job Title, all of which are essential components of user identity management within the social collaboration platform.
The technical flaw manifests through the absence of proper server-side input validation and sanitization, creating a pathway for authenticated users to craft malicious requests that bypass the intended access controls. This vulnerability operates under the principle that client-side validation can be easily circumvented by attackers who can manipulate HTTP requests directly through tools like browser developer consoles, proxy applications, or custom scripts. The vulnerability specifically enables privilege escalation or unauthorized data modification by allowing attackers to submit crafted values that would normally be rejected by the system's validation logic. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-602, which describes client-side enforcement of server-side security checks, and represents a fundamental breach in the defense-in-depth principle that should protect against such manipulation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, as it could potentially enable attackers to assume elevated privileges or access restricted functionality within the WebEx Social environment. An authenticated user could exploit this weakness to modify their own profile information in ways that might grant them unauthorized access to features or data that should be restricted to specific user roles. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated attack vector means that an attacker does not need physical access to the system or network but can exploit the weakness from any location where they have valid credentials to access the WebEx Social platform. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on the platform for collaborative work environments.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through manipulation of authentication and authorization controls. Organizations using Cisco WebEx Social would be particularly vulnerable to insider threats or compromised accounts, as the vulnerability allows for modification of user attributes that might be used for access control decisions within the application. The lack of server-side validation creates a false sense of security where client-side controls are treated as sufficient protection mechanisms, violating the principle that all inputs should be validated on the server side regardless of client-side checks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing robust server-side validation processes and the dangers of relying on client-side controls for security enforcement.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1245 should focus on implementing comprehensive server-side validation for all user input fields, including proper sanitization of input values and enforcement of strict data type and format validation rules. Organizations should implement input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture and ensure that all user profile modifications are properly authenticated and authorized before being accepted by the system. The recommended approach includes implementing proper access control checks for all user management operations, establishing audit logging for profile modifications, and ensuring that all input fields undergo rigorous validation regardless of the client-side controls that may be present. Cisco should have addressed this issue through proper server-side validation implementation and potentially through patch releases that enforce proper input sanitization and validation for all user profile fields. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that client-side validation should never be considered sufficient for security enforcement, and that all user inputs must be treated as potentially malicious until properly validated and sanitized by the server-side components of the application.