CVE-2015-4281 in WebEx Meetings Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Cisco WebEx Meetings Server 2.5 MR1 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users, aka Bug IDs CSCus56150 and CSCus56146.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4281 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within Cisco WebEx Meetings Server version 2.5 MR1. This weakness resides in the server's inability to properly validate and authenticate user requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the authentication process by allowing unauthorized parties to manipulate session tokens and credentials, effectively enabling them to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the WebEx Meetings Server framework. Attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated users, leveraging the server's trust in legitimate session cookies and authentication headers. This flaw specifically impacts the server's ability to distinguish between authorized and malicious requests, particularly when users are logged into the WebEx platform. The vulnerability manifests when users visit malicious websites or click on compromised links that trigger unauthorized actions against the vulnerable server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the WebEx Meetings environment. An attacker could potentially modify user settings, initiate unauthorized meetings, access sensitive meeting data, or even escalate privileges within the system. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on WebEx for critical business communications. This weakness also poses significant risks to enterprise security posture, as it can serve as a foothold for further attacks or lateral movement within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, enabling proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the WebEx server. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to maintain persistent access to enterprise communication systems. Additional protective measures should include regular security assessments, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and implementing multi-factor authentication for critical administrative functions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and request origin verification in web applications, as recommended by various security standards and best practices in secure software development.