CVE-2014-2135 in WebEx Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Cisco Advanced Recording Format (ARF) player T27 LD before SP32 EP16, T28 before T28.12, and T29 before T29.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted .arf file, aka Bug IDs CSCul87216 and CSCuj07603.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2135 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Cisco Advanced Recording Format ARF player software across multiple versions of the T27 LD, T28, and T29 product lines. This vulnerability specifically affects systems running versions prior to SP32 EP16 for T27 LD, T28.12 for T28, and T29.2 for T29. The flaw manifests when the affected software processes maliciously crafted .arf files, which are used for storing audio and video recording data in Cisco environments. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This weakness directly enables the execution of arbitrary code on vulnerable systems and can also result in denial of service conditions through memory corruption and application crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a specially formatted .arf file that contains malicious data exceeding the allocated buffer space within the ARF player application. When the vulnerable software attempts to parse and process this crafted file, the buffer overflow condition triggers memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The attack vector is remote, meaning that an attacker can deliver the malicious .arf file through network-based delivery mechanisms without requiring local access to the target system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through email attachments, web downloads, or other remote file delivery methods. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which involves the use of malicious files to gain execution privileges on target systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2135 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass significant business continuity risks for organizations relying on Cisco ARF player software for recording and playback operations. Organizations using affected versions of Cisco T27 LD, T28, and T29 systems face potential unauthorized access to their networks, data breaches, and complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Cisco's recording infrastructure, potentially disrupting critical communication services in enterprise environments where these systems are deployed for voice and video recording applications. Memory corruption resulting from the buffer overflow can cause application crashes and system instability, leading to service interruptions that may impact mission-critical operations. Additionally, the vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target multiple systems simultaneously without requiring physical access or extensive reconnaissance. The flaw's presence in multiple product versions indicates a systemic weakness in the software's input validation and memory management practices, making it a particularly attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2135 primarily involve immediate deployment of vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the buffer overflow conditions in affected Cisco ARF player versions. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest available software releases that contain fixes for Bug IDs CSCul87216 and CSCuj07603, which specifically address the identified vulnerabilities. Network administrators should implement strict file validation procedures to prevent execution of untrusted .arf files and consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious file transfers. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls can help limit the potential impact should an attacker successfully exploit the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected software versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling the ARF player functionality entirely if it is not critical to business operations, as this provides the most effective defense against the vulnerability. Regular security awareness training for personnel handling recording systems can help prevent social engineering attacks that might deliver malicious .arf files through phishing or other deceptive means.