CVE-2018-0379 in WebEx Network Recording Player
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities exist in the Cisco Webex Network Recording Player for Advanced Recording Format (ARF) and Webex Recording Format (WRF) files. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by providing a user with a malicious .arf or .wrf file via email or URL and convincing the user to launch the file in the Webex recording players. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow arbitrary code execution on the system of a targeted user. These vulnerabilities affect ARF and WRF recording players available from Cisco Webex Meetings Suite sites, Cisco Webex Meetings Online sites, and Cisco Webex Meetings Server. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvi02621, CSCvi02965, CSCvi63329, CSCvi63333, CSCvi63335, CSCvi63374, CSCvi63376, CSCvi63377, CSCvi63391, CSCvi63392, CSCvi63396, CSCvi63495, CSCvi63497, CSCvi63498, CSCvi82684, CSCvi82700, CSCvi82705, CSCvi82725, CSCvi82737, CSCvi82742, CSCvi82760, CSCvi82771, CSCvj51284, CSCvj51294.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0379 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Webex Network Recording Player software that processes Advanced Recording Format and Webex Recording Format files. This issue affects multiple deployment environments including on-premise Cisco Webex Meetings Server installations, cloud-based Cisco Webex Meetings Online services, and traditional Cisco Webex Meetings Suite platforms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the parsing routines of the recording player software, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited through social engineering tactics.
The technical exploitation of these vulnerabilities occurs through crafted malicious .arf and .wrf files that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, trigger code execution within the context of the victim's system. The underlying flaw manifests as buffer overflow conditions and memory corruption issues that arise during file parsing operations, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. These vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they leverage the trust relationship between users and the Webex recording player application, making them difficult to detect through conventional security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0379 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access for attackers. The vulnerabilities affect a broad range of Cisco Webex deployment models, making them particularly attractive targets for attackers seeking to maximize their attack surface. The affected systems are vulnerable to privilege escalation attacks, remote code execution, and potential data exfiltration operations. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios commonly found in multimedia file processing applications.
From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services through malicious file delivery. The attack vector typically involves phishing campaigns where malicious .arf or .wrf files are distributed via email attachments or malicious web links, relying on user interaction to initiate exploitation. The attack chain begins with initial access through social engineering, followed by exploitation of the vulnerable file parser, and concludes with arbitrary code execution that can be leveraged for further system compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple Cisco Bug IDs indicating the widespread nature of the issue across various components of the Webex platform ecosystem.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling automatic execution of Webex recording files, implementing strict file type filtering in email gateways, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation approach involves applying Cisco's security patches and updates as soon as they become available, while also considering temporary network segmentation to limit lateral movement capabilities. Security teams should also conduct user awareness training to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks, as the vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited successfully. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in multimedia processing applications and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation mechanisms in all file handling components.