CVE-2018-0276 in WebEX Connect IM
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco WebEx Connect IM 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: CSCvi07812.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0276 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Cisco WebEx Connect IM software that exposes users to significant security risks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web server component of the affected system, creating an exploitable weakness that can be leveraged by unauthenticated remote attackers. The flaw specifically affects parameters processed by the web interface, where insufficient sanitization allows malicious input to persist and execute within user sessions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks. The security implications extend beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly concerning given the nature of WebEx Connect IM as a communication platform where users frequently engage in sensitive business discussions and share confidential data. Attackers can exploit this weakness through social engineering tactics by crafting malicious links that, when clicked by a victim, execute malicious JavaScript code within the user's browser context. Additionally, man-in-the-middle attacks could intercept legitimate user requests and inject malicious payloads, making this vulnerability particularly stealthy and difficult to detect. The attack vector is especially dangerous because it requires no authentication, making it accessible to any remote attacker with knowledge of the target system's configuration. The vulnerability's potential for executing arbitrary code in the web interface context allows attackers to perform actions such as reading session cookies, modifying user interface elements, or redirecting users to malicious sites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0276 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Cisco, as the vendor has acknowledged this issue through Bug ID CSCvi07812. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious data from being executed within the application context. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS attack patterns, particularly those targeting the specific parameters affected by this vulnerability. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software within their infrastructure and ensure that proper access controls are in place to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The remediation process should also include user education about recognizing suspicious links and the importance of keeping software updated. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded within the browser environment. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.