CVE-2018-0109 in WebEx Meetings Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco WebEx Meetings Server could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to access sensitive data about the application. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain information to conduct additional reconnaissance attacks. The vulnerability is due to a design flaw in Cisco WebEx Meetings Server that could allow an attacker who is authenticated as root to gain shared secrets. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by accessing the root account and viewing sensitive information. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to discover sensitive information about the application. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg42664.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0109 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco WebEx Meetings Server that exposes sensitive application data to authenticated remote attackers. This vulnerability stems from a fundamental design weakness within the server architecture that specifically affects the root account authentication mechanism. The flaw allows an attacker who has already established root-level access to extract shared secrets and other confidential information that could be leveraged for further malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the highest privilege level of the system, providing attackers with unprecedented access to internal application components and configuration details.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of privileged access controls within the Cisco WebEx Meetings Server framework. When an attacker successfully authenticates as the root user, the system fails to properly restrict access to sensitive data structures that contain shared secrets and internal application metadata. This design flaw creates an information disclosure channel that bypasses normal access control mechanisms and allows for the extraction of critical system information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, specifically focusing on inadequate privilege management and information exposure. The root cause can be traced to insufficient input validation and access control enforcement within the server's authentication subsystem.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2018-0109 enables attackers to conduct comprehensive reconnaissance activities against the affected WebEx environment. The extracted shared secrets and application information could be used to compromise additional system components, escalate privileges further, or launch targeted attacks against connected systems. This vulnerability significantly undermines the security posture of organizations relying on Cisco WebEx Meetings Server, as it provides attackers with the foundational knowledge needed to plan more sophisticated attacks. The information disclosure could reveal internal network configurations, cryptographic keys, and other sensitive operational details that would normally remain protected. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1552 (Unsecured Credentials) techniques, as attackers can discover sensitive files and extract stored credentials.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including strengthening root account security measures, implementing additional access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized root access attempts. The recommended approach involves enforcing multi-factor authentication for root accounts, implementing strict audit logging of root activities, and conducting regular security assessments of the WebEx Meetings Server configuration. Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through specific software updates and patches that correct the design flaw in the authentication and access control mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the WebEx server infrastructure and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious root account activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege management and the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms before deployment in production environments.