CVE-2016-1448 in WebEx Meetings Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Cisco WebEx Meetings Server 2.7 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users, aka Bug ID CSCuy92706.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1448 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Cisco WebEx Meetings Server version 2.7. This security weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions by tricking users into executing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's authentication handling mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to user sessions and potentially leading to complete account compromise.
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 authentication flow. When users access the web interface or interact with meeting services, the server fails to adequately verify that requests originate from legitimate sources. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing web content to submit requests that appear to come from authenticated users, thereby bypassing normal authentication controls. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the browser's automatic handling of cookies and session information to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, potentially allowing attackers to perform administrative functions, schedule meetings, modify user permissions, or access sensitive meeting data. The vulnerability affects all users authenticated to the WebEx Meetings Server, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the system manages critical business communications. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain persistent access to meeting services, disrupt business operations, or exfiltrate confidential information shared during meetings. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or system infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and configuring web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious cross-site requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications, and corresponds to techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category for credential access through social engineering and session manipulation. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication and strict access controls to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation.