CVE-2018-0457 in WebEx Player
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Webex Player for Webex Recording Format (WRF) files could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a user a link or email attachment with a malicious WRF file and persuading the user to open the file in the Cisco Webex Player. A successful exploit could cause the affected player to crash, resulting in a DoS condition. For more information about this vulnerability, see the Details section of this security advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0457 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Cisco Webex Player's handling of Webex Recording Format files. This security flaw exists in the player's processing mechanism for WRF files, which are commonly used for storing and sharing web conferencing recordings. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the player's file parsing routines, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through maliciously crafted WRF content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a specially designed WRF file that contains malformed data or excessive resource consumption patterns. When an unsuspecting user opens this malicious file using the vulnerable Cisco Webex Player, the player's parsing logic fails to properly handle the abnormal input, leading to a crash condition. This process aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and CWE-248, which addresses exposure of an exception to external entities. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication or specialized privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for widespread impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it creates a vector for social engineering attacks that can be particularly effective in enterprise environments. Attackers can easily distribute malicious WRF files through email attachments or web links, leveraging the trust users place in legitimate conferencing tools. The DoS condition affects not just individual users but can potentially disrupt collaborative workflows and business continuity, especially in organizations that heavily rely on Webex for communication. This weakness can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through resource exhaustion or application crashes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0457 should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should immediately apply Cisco's security patches and updates to all affected Webex Player installations, as these releases contain the necessary code modifications to properly validate WRF file structures. Network administrators should implement email filtering solutions that can identify and quarantine suspicious file attachments, particularly those with WRF file extensions. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying file sources before opening any attachments, as this vulnerability relies heavily on social engineering components. The fix addresses the underlying parsing logic and implements proper boundary checking mechanisms that prevent the player from crashing when encountering malformed input data.