CVE-2017-12366 in WebEx Meeting Center
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco WebEx Meeting Center could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of an affected system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of some parameters that are passed to the web server of the affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by convincing a user to follow a malicious link or by intercepting a user request and injecting malicious code into the request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected web interface or allow the attacker to access sensitive browser-based information. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf78635,, CSCvg52440.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12366 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco WebEx Meeting Center, a widely deployed web conferencing platform that facilitates online meetings and collaboration. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web server component of the affected system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into user sessions. The flaw specifically manifests when the web application fails to properly sanitize or validate certain parameters passed through user requests, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted inputs. The vulnerability affects users who interact with the WebEx Meeting Center interface, potentially compromising the security of meetings and collaborative sessions where sensitive information is exchanged. Security researchers have documented this issue through Cisco Bug IDs CSCvf78635 and CSCvg52440, which provide detailed technical insights into the specific parameter handling failures that enable the exploitation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where an attacker crafts malicious payloads designed to execute within the victim's browser context. The attack vector requires the target user to either click on a malicious link hosted on an attacker-controlled server or intercept and modify legitimate user requests through man-in-the-middle techniques. When a user interacts with the vulnerable parameter, the malicious script code gets executed in the context of the WebEx interface, potentially allowing attackers to access session cookies, capture user credentials, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The lack of proper input validation means that user-supplied data flows directly into the web application's response without adequate sanitization or encoding, creating a persistent security gap that can be leveraged for various malicious activities. This vulnerability specifically targets the web server's parameter handling capabilities and represents a classic case of insufficient data validation that violates fundamental web application security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12366 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to comprehensive session hijacking and data exfiltration capabilities for attackers. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to impersonate legitimate users within the WebEx environment, potentially accessing sensitive meeting information, participant details, or proprietary content shared during conferences. The vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring prior access credentials, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely heavily on WebEx for business-critical communications. Organizations may experience significant disruption to their collaborative workflows, potential data breaches, and reputational damage if attackers successfully leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to their meeting environments. The impact is amplified in enterprise settings where WebEx is used for confidential business discussions, strategic planning sessions, or handling sensitive customer information, as the vulnerability could expose critical business data to unauthorized parties.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco to address the input validation deficiencies in WebEx Meeting Center. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to detect and block malicious script injections targeting the vulnerable parameters. Additional protective measures include enabling strict content security policies within the web application, implementing proper input sanitization at multiple layers, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar validation flaws. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from insufficient input validation, and maps to ATT&CK techniques such as T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage XSS vectors. Organizations should also enhance user awareness training to recognize suspicious links and implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with XSS exploitation attempts, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and similar web application vulnerabilities.