CVE-2013-6967 in WebEx Sales Center
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in the mobile-browser subsystem in Cisco WebEx Sales Center allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCul36020.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The CVE-2013-6967 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw within Cisco WebEx Sales Center's mobile-browser subsystem that enables remote attackers to manipulate user navigation to malicious websites. This vulnerability specifically affects the mobile browser component of the WebEx Sales Center platform, which is designed to facilitate remote sales presentations and collaboration. The issue stems from insufficient validation of redirect parameters within the mobile browser implementation, creating a pathway for attackers to craft malicious URLs that would automatically redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the browser level within the mobile application, making it difficult for users to detect malicious redirection attempts. According to Cisco's bug tracking system under identifier CSCul36020, this flaw was discovered in the mobile browser subsystem's handling of web navigation parameters, where the application failed to properly sanitize or validate redirect destinations before executing navigation commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the mobile browser subsystem's failure to perform adequate input validation on redirect URLs passed through various application interfaces. Attackers can exploit this by constructing specially crafted URLs that contain redirect parameters pointing to malicious domains, which the mobile browser will automatically follow without user confirmation. The flaw exists in the way the mobile browser handles URL parsing and redirection logic, where the application assumes all redirect destinations are legitimate and safe. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-601, which defines open redirect vulnerabilities as those that allow web applications to redirect users to arbitrary websites without proper validation. The attack vector typically involves sending malicious links through phishing emails, social engineering campaigns, or compromised websites that appear to be legitimate WebEx-related communications. The mobile browser component processes these links without adequate security checks, resulting in automatic redirection to attacker-controlled domains that can host phishing pages or malware distribution points.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6967 extends beyond simple phishing attacks to potentially enable more sophisticated social engineering campaigns and credential theft operations. When users are redirected to malicious sites through this vulnerability, they may unknowingly enter credentials on fake login pages that mimic legitimate WebEx interfaces. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where WebEx Sales Center is widely used for business presentations and client meetings, as attackers can target executives and sales personnel who frequently use the mobile application. This opens opportunities for credential harvesting, data exfiltration, and further network infiltration through the compromised accounts. The mobile nature of the vulnerability adds additional risk because mobile devices often contain sensitive corporate data and may be used in less secure network environments. According to ATT&CK framework category T1566, this vulnerability enables initial access through phishing techniques, while T1071.004 covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. The impact is compounded by the fact that users may not immediately recognize the redirection, especially when the malicious site closely mimics the legitimate WebEx interface design.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6967 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements within the WebEx Sales Center platform. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, while also deploying email filtering solutions that can identify and quarantine phishing emails containing malicious WebEx links. The most effective immediate fix involves updating to Cisco WebEx Sales Center versions that contain patches addressing the open redirect vulnerability, as Cisco released security updates specifically designed to resolve this issue. Network administrators should also consider implementing URL filtering policies that block access to known malicious domains and establish user education programs to help identify potential phishing attempts. From a defensive perspective, implementing strict input validation and output encoding within the mobile browser subsystem would prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability, while also aligning with secure coding practices recommended by OWASP and NIST guidelines. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of mobile applications and implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual redirect patterns or unauthorized access attempts to the WebEx platform. The vulnerability underscores the importance of mobile application security testing and proper input validation in all web-based applications, particularly those handling sensitive business communications and user credentials.