CVE-2019-16005 in Webex Video Mesh
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Webex Video Mesh could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in to the web-based management interface with administrative privileges and supplying crafted requests to the application. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying Linux operating system with root privileges on a targeted node.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2024
This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco Webex Video Mesh, a video conferencing solution that enables organizations to conduct virtual meetings and collaborate remotely. The affected system operates on a Linux-based operating system where the web interface serves as the primary administrative gateway for managing video mesh configurations and system operations. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's access controls and input validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of user-supplied input within the web-based management interface. This weakness falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" which is a fundamental software security principle that ensures all user-provided data is properly sanitized and validated before processing. The vulnerability occurs when administrative users authenticate to the system and submit crafted requests through the web interface, bypassing normal input sanitization procedures that should prevent malicious code execution. The flaw specifically affects how the application processes parameters passed through HTTP requests, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that are then executed with root privileges on the underlying operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Cisco Webex Video Mesh systems. An authenticated attacker with administrative credentials can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, effectively gaining complete control over the underlying Linux environment. This level of access enables the attacker to modify system configurations, install malicious software, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistence mechanisms within the network. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, and the requirement for only administrative privileges makes the attack surface particularly concerning for organizations where administrative accounts may be compromised through various means including credential theft, social engineering, or other attack vectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit administrative access to only trusted personnel and systems. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that administrative accounts are not accessible from untrusted networks and that multi-factor authentication is implemented for all administrative access points. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts to the web management interface. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as the attack chain typically involves initial access through compromised credentials followed by command execution. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder that administrative interfaces represent high-value targets for attackers seeking to escalate privileges within network environments.