CVE-2018-15411 in WebEx Network Recording Player
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Webex Network Recording Player for Microsoft Windows and the Cisco Webex Player for Microsoft Windows could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected system. The vulnerability exist because the affected software improperly validates Advanced Recording Format (ARF) and Webex Recording Format (WRF) files. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a user a malicious ARF or WRF file via a link or an email attachment and persuading the user to open the file by using the affected software. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15411 represents a critical code execution flaw in Cisco Webex Network Recording Player and Cisco Webex Player software for Microsoft Windows environments. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the affected media playback applications that process Advanced Recording Format and Webex Recording Format files. The vulnerability creates a significant attack surface where malicious actors can leverage specially crafted media files to compromise target systems through social engineering tactics that诱导 users to open infected attachments or click malicious links.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically manifesting as improper validation of file formats during the parsing process. When the affected software attempts to process ARF or WRF files, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the file structure, allowing malicious code embedded within these media containers to be executed in the context of the user running the application. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the file parsing level where the application's trust model is established, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, creating potential for complete system compromise and lateral movement within network environments. Attackers exploiting this weakness could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, establish persistent backdoors, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks against other network resources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through social engineering, but once triggered, it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries leverage legitimate system tools to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15411 should prioritize immediate software updates from Cisco, as the vendor has released patches addressing the input validation flaws in the affected applications. Organizations should implement strict file type filtering at network boundaries and endpoint devices to prevent execution of ARF and WRF files from untrusted sources. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected email attachments or clicking suspicious links, while network administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of the vulnerable Webex players to trusted environments only. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in multimedia processing applications, particularly those handling user-supplied content that could contain embedded malicious code.