Cisco Webex had some very spooky security flaws Cisco Webex
As organizations around the world turned to video conferencing software to stay in touch while working from home during the pandemic, so too did IBM with Cisco Webex being its primary tool for holding remote meetings.
IBM Research and IBM’s Office of the CISO then took a deeper look at the collaboration tools being used for day-to-day work to better understand how they could impact sensitive meetings now being held virtually. During its investigation, the company’s security researchers discovered three vulnerabilities in Webex.
If exploited, these flaws could allow a malicious actor to become a ‘ghost’ and join a meeting without being detected. They would be unable to be seen on the participant list while still have full access to video, audio, chat and screen-sharing capabilities.
To make matters worse, a ghost could remain in a Webex meeting even after being expelled from it while still maintaining an audio connection that would allow them to listen in on sensitive company business. Additionally, a ghost could gain access to information on meeting attendees including their full names, email address and IP addresses from the meeting room lobby even without being admitted to the call.
Webex vulnerabilities
The IBM Research team discovered three vulnerabilities in Cisco Webex, tracked as CVE-2020-3441, CVE-2020-3471 and CVE-2020-3419, while examining the platform for security and privacy implications for businesses.
These flaws affect both scheduled meetings with unique meeting URLs and even Webex Personal Rooms. However, Personal Rooms may be easier to exploit because they are often based on a predictable combination of the room owner’s name and the organization name.
Upon its discovery, IBM reported the vulnerabilities to Cisco and they have all now been patched. However, both companies have agreed to limited information dissemination regarding the flaws until all patches have been made available to reduce the risk to the industry as a whole.
To avoid falling victim to any potential attacks while video conferencing, IBM recommends that organizations test new collaboration tools for security, evaluate confident ail call policies, use unique meeting Ids, implement meeting passwords or PINs, start meetings with a roll call, turn on notifications, immediately end suspicious calls, lock meetings and restart meetings when holding back-to-back calls.
As organizations around the world turned to video conferencing software to stay in touch while working from home during the pandemic, so too did IBM with Cisco Webex being its primary tool for holding remote meetings. IBM Research and IBM’s Office of the CISO then took a deeper look at…
Recent Posts
- We might have just gotten our first look at Samsung’s next-gen Galaxy Fold and Flip
- Google Maps is about to get a big privacy boost, but fans of Timeline may lose their data
- Lego’s limited-edition Ominous Isle and British train station are imminently going on sale
- Is this the first true wireless monitor ever? Portable display uses Wi-Fi for connectivity and has a built in battery — shame it is only a 16-inch model that lacks touchscreen capabilities
- Samsung’s new MicroLED TVs cost up to $150K for a 114-inch
Archives
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- December 2011