CVE-2016-1410 in WebEx Meeting Center
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center Original Release Base allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about username validity by (1) attending or (2) hosting a meeting, aka Bug ID CSCux84312.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
Cisco WebEx Meeting Center Original Release Base contains a vulnerability that enables remote attackers to discover valid usernames through two distinct attack vectors. The flaw exists in the system's response handling mechanism during meeting participation and hosting activities, where the application provides different error messages or behaviors when attempting to access meetings with valid versus invalid usernames. This information disclosure vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and response normalization in the authentication and authorization processes. The vulnerability specifically affects the original release base of Cisco WebEx Meeting Center, indicating it was present in the initial software implementation rather than being introduced through subsequent updates or patches. Attackers can exploit this weakness by attempting to join meetings with various username combinations, observing the system's responses to determine which usernames are valid within the target organization's environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to provide consistent error responses when processing meeting access requests. When a user attempts to join or host a meeting with a non-existent username, the system may return different error codes or messages compared to when a valid username is used but an invalid password is provided. This differential response behavior creates a side-channel information leak that allows attackers to perform username enumeration attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the WebEx service. The attack can be executed through simple network requests or by using the WebEx client software to attempt connections with various username credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a critical reconnaissance tool for subsequent attack phases. Valid username enumeration enables attackers to build comprehensive user directories for targeted social engineering campaigns, password spraying attacks, or more sophisticated credential-based attacks. Organizations using the affected WebEx Meeting Center version become vulnerable to targeted attacks where adversaries can systematically identify valid user accounts within their network infrastructure. This information can be used to plan more effective phishing campaigns, conduct credential stuffing attacks against other systems, or identify high-value targets within the organization's user base. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on WebEx for business communications, as it undermines the security of their meeting access controls and user authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing consistent error handling and response normalization across all authentication and authorization endpoints. Organizations should ensure that the WebEx Meeting Center is updated to the latest available patches from Cisco, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Network administrators should implement additional access controls and monitoring to detect unusual patterns of username enumeration attempts. The implementation of rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms can help prevent automated enumeration attacks from succeeding. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious authentication patterns. Compliance with industry standards such as cwe-200 for information disclosure and mitre ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts can help organizations better understand and protect against this class of vulnerability. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications and services.