CVE-2019-1954 in WebEx Meetings Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Webex Meetings Server Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to redirect a user to an undesired web page. The vulnerability is due to improper input validation of the URL parameters in an HTTP request that is sent to an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting an HTTP request that could cause the web application to redirect the request to a specified malicious URL. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to redirect a user to a malicious website.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1954 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco Webex Meetings Server Software, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user navigation and system trust. This issue affects organizations relying on Cisco's collaboration platform for video conferencing and meeting management, where the web interface serves as the primary administrative gateway for system configuration and user management operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the application's request processing pipeline, specifically targeting URL parameter handling within HTTP requests that are directed to affected devices. Security researchers have classified this as a web application vulnerability that compromises the application's ability to properly validate user-supplied input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters within HTTP requests sent to the affected Cisco Webex Meetings Server. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing specially formatted URL parameters, the application fails to adequately validate these inputs before processing them, leading to unintended redirection behavior. The flaw operates at the application layer where the web interface does not properly sanitize or validate the destination URLs that are specified in the request parameters. This improper input validation creates a path for attackers to inject malicious URLs that will be processed by the application's redirect functionality, effectively bypassing normal access controls and authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication credentials to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can intercept or craft HTTP requests to the targeted system.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1954 extends beyond simple redirection attacks, potentially enabling more sophisticated social engineering campaigns and phishing operations that leverage the trust users place in legitimate Cisco Webex systems. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to redirect users to malicious websites that could host malware, steal credentials, or deliver additional payloads designed to compromise the user's system or network. This redirection capability can be weaponized to create convincing phishing attacks that appear to originate from legitimate Cisco Webex services, significantly increasing the likelihood of user deception and successful compromise. Organizations utilizing Cisco Webex Meetings Server may experience unauthorized access attempts, potential data exfiltration, and disruption of legitimate meeting services, while the compromised trust in the platform could lead to broader security incidents within the enterprise network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Cisco Webex Meetings Server software versions, as Cisco has released security updates to address the improper input validation flaw. Network administrators should implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious URL parameter patterns, enhanced monitoring of HTTP traffic for suspicious redirection attempts, and regular security assessments of the web interface components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses URL redirection vulnerabilities that can lead to open redirect attacks, and corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566, focusing on phishing and social engineering tactics. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the management interface, enforcing strict access controls, and conducting user awareness training to recognize potential redirection attacks that may appear legitimate. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched software to ensure that the fix does not introduce compatibility issues with existing configurations or business processes.