CVE-2014-9415 in eSpace Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei eSpace Desktop before V100R001C03 allows local users to cause a denial of service (program exit) via a crafted QES file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9415 affects Huawei eSpace Desktop software versions prior to V100R001C03, representing a significant security weakness that enables local attackers to execute denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted QES files. This issue resides within the desktop communication software designed for enterprise voice and video conferencing solutions, where the vulnerability manifests during the processing of specially constructed QES (Quick Entry Script) files that contain malformed data structures or unexpected input sequences. The flaw operates at the application level parsing stage, where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters before attempting to process the QES file content, leading to unexpected program termination or exit conditions that disrupt normal system operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a local user places a maliciously crafted QES file into the application's processing path, which then triggers an unhandled exception or buffer overflow condition during file parsing operations. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, depending on the specific implementation details of how the QES file parsing is handled within the eSpace Desktop application. The vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input validation where the application does not adequately check the integrity or format of external input data before processing, allowing malicious input to cause program instability and subsequent termination.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to enterprise environments where Huawei eSpace Desktop is deployed, as local users with access to the system can intentionally cause service disruptions that may impact business communications and collaboration. The denial of service condition can result in complete application unavailability, forcing users to restart the software or potentially reboot affected systems, which creates operational downtime and productivity losses. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect critical communication infrastructure within organizations, particularly in scenarios where the eSpace Desktop serves as a primary communication tool for business operations. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability repeatedly to maintain persistent disruption of services, making it particularly concerning for enterprise security posture.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Huawei eSpace Desktop V100R001C03 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched, as well as implementing strict file access controls to limit local user privileges and prevent unauthorized file placement in critical application directories. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual file creation patterns or attempts to place malicious files in system directories. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and script injection, as attackers may leverage this weakness to execute malicious commands through crafted input files. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments of enterprise communication tools can help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future. System administrators should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems.