CVE-2016-1415 in WebEx Meetings Player
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco WebEx Meetings Player T29.10, when WRF file support is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted file, aka Bug ID CSCuz80455.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1415 affects Cisco WebEx Meetings Player version T29.10 and represents a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely through maliciously crafted WRF files. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the WRF file support feature is enabled within the application, creating a pathway for attackers to trigger application instability and subsequent crashes. The bug ID CSCuz80455 documents this specific weakness in the software's file processing capabilities, highlighting the dangerous potential for unauthorized disruption of legitimate meeting sessions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and improper error handling within the WebEx Meetings Player's WRF file parser. When the application encounters a malformed or specially crafted WRF file, it fails to properly sanitize the input data, leading to memory corruption or stack overflow conditions that ultimately result in application termination. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read category, as the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries during file processing operations. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the software does not adequately validate file structures or implement robust exception handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise the reliability and availability of collaborative meeting environments that organizations depend upon for business continuity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to interrupt ongoing meetings, potentially causing significant business disruption for enterprises relying on WebEx for critical communications. The remote nature of the attack means that malicious actors can target users without requiring physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where meeting systems are frequently accessed over network connections. This weakness directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a specific implementation flaw that can be leveraged for broader operational disruption.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling WRF file support when it is not required, applying the latest security patches from Cisco, and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of affected systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and defensive programming practices in multimedia applications, particularly those handling user-provided content. Security teams should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of collaboration platforms and mandatory patch management policies are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments. The incident highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of file parsing components and the implementation of robust error handling mechanisms that can gracefully manage malformed inputs without compromising application stability.