CVE-2017-12367 in WebEx Network Recording Player
Summary
by MITRE
A "Cisco WebEx Network Recording Player Denial of Service Vulnerability" exists in Cisco WebEx Network Recording Player for Advanced Recording Format (ARF) and WebEx Recording Format (WRF) files. A remote attacker could exploit this by providing a user with a malicious ARF or WRF file via email or URL and convincing the user to launch the file. Exploitation of this could cause an affected player to crash and, in some cases, could allow arbitrary code execution on the system of a targeted user. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve11545, CSCve02843, CSCve11548.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-12367 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco WebEx Network Recording Player software that affects both Advanced Recording Format (ARF) and WebEx Recording Format (WRF) file processing capabilities. This vulnerability resides in the media player component responsible for handling recorded WebEx sessions, creating a potential attack surface where malicious actors can compromise user systems through carefully crafted multimedia files. The flaw specifically impacts the parsing and rendering mechanisms within the player application, creating conditions where normal file processing can escalate into system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given the widespread use of WebEx for business communications and collaboration, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to exploit user trust and engagement with legitimate recording files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within the WebEx Network Recording Player's file processing pipeline. When the player encounters maliciously constructed ARF or WRF files, the parsing routines fail to properly sanitize the input data, leading to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions. This weakness allows attackers to craft files that, when opened by the vulnerable player, trigger unexpected behavior in the application's memory management systems. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be triggered through simple file execution, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or complex attack vectors beyond social engineering. According to the Cisco bug IDs CSCve11545, CSCve02843, and CSCve11548, the vulnerability manifests through specific parsing errors in the media codec handling and file structure interpretation components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable full system compromise through arbitrary code execution. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the WebEx player, potentially leading to complete system takeover. This capability transforms what might initially appear as a simple crash vulnerability into a sophisticated attack vector that could facilitate data exfiltration, persistent backdoor installation, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects users across various operating systems where the WebEx player is installed, creating a broad attack surface that adversaries can leverage through email campaigns, malicious websites, or other delivery mechanisms. The remote exploit nature means that users do not need to be technically savvy to fall victim, as the attack can be initiated through simple user interaction with malicious files.
Organizations and individuals should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with disabling automatic playback of potentially malicious files and ensuring all Cisco WebEx installations are updated to patched versions. The recommended approach involves network segmentation to limit exposure, implementing email filtering rules to block suspicious WebEx file attachments, and conducting user awareness training to recognize potential social engineering attempts. Security teams should also monitor network traffic for unusual file access patterns and implement endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious file execution. According to industry standards such as CWE-121, this vulnerability aligns with memory buffer overflow conditions that represent a fundamental weakness in software input handling, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under initial access techniques involving social engineering and execution through malicious files. The remediation process requires coordinated patch management across all affected systems, with particular attention to legacy installations that may not receive automatic updates.