How severe is CVE-2018-15442?

CVE-2018-15442 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2018-15442 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 16% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-15442?

CVE-2018-15442 primarily affects Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-15442?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2018-15442 published?

CVE-2018-15442 was published on 2018-10-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2018-15442

CVE-2018-15442 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 16% places it in the 97th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-78.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 7.2
EPSS exploit prediction: 16% (97th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-78
Affected product: Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop
Published: 2018-10-24
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in the update service of Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop App for Windows could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as a privileged user. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied parameters. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by invoking the update service command with a crafted argument. An exploit could allow the attacker to run arbitrary commands with SYSTEM user privileges. While the CVSS Attack Vector metric denotes the requirement for an attacker to have local access, administrators should be aware that in Active Directory deployments, the vulnerability could be exploited remotely by leveraging the operating system remote management tools.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-15442?: A vulnerability in the update service of Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop App for Windows could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands as a privileged user. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied parameters. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by invoking the update service command with a crafted argument. An exploit could allow the attacker to run arbitrary commands with SYSTEM user privileges. While the CVSS Attack Vector metric denotes the requirement for an attacker to have local access, administrators should be aware that in Active Directory deployments, the vulnerability could be exploited remotely by leveraging the operating system remote management tools.
How severe is CVE-2018-15442?: CVE-2018-15442 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2018-15442 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 16% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-15442?: CVE-2018-15442 primarily affects Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2018-15442?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2018-15442 published?: CVE-2018-15442 was published on 2018-10-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:cisco:webex_meetings_desktop:*:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:cisco:webex_productivity_tools:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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