CVE-2025-49461 in Workplace Desktop
Summary
by MITRE • 09/10/2025
Cross-site scripting in certain Zoom Workplace Clients may allow an unauthenticated user to conduct a denial of service via network access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
This vulnerability affects certain Zoom Workplace client implementations and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that could enable unauthenticated attackers to perform denial of service operations through network access. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the client-side JavaScript processing components of the Zoom Workplace application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable client, trigger unintended execution paths leading to service disruption. The flaw exists in the client-side rendering logic where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into dynamic web content, creating conditions where malicious scripts can execute within the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw occurring when untrusted data is embedded into web pages without proper validation or encoding. This particular implementation likely involves improper sanitization of parameters passed through network requests or user interface elements that are subsequently rendered in the client environment. The attack vector operates over network access, meaning no authentication is required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is common. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-116 which addresses improper encoding of special characters, and CWE-352 which covers cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities that can be leveraged to manipulate client-side behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service as it represents a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks within the Zoom Workplace ecosystem. An attacker could potentially use the XSS capability to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or manipulate the application interface to create persistent service disruptions. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any network-accessible client could be targeted, including mobile applications, desktop clients, or web-based interfaces that are part of the Zoom Workplace suite. This vulnerability could be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the Zoom platform and where network segmentation may not adequately protect client-side components from direct internet exposure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Zoom Workplace clients, implementing network-level restrictions to limit direct exposure of client applications, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1212 emphasizes the importance of input validation and output encoding controls. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to recognize potential phishing attempts that might leverage this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and conducting regular security assessments of client-side applications. The remediation approach should align with industry best practices for web application security and follow guidelines from organizations such as OWASP for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in client-side applications.