CVE-2020-3161

9.8 CRITICAL 84% exploit odds Drop everything exploited in the wild Fix listed Denial of service Network gear

What it is

A vulnerability in the web server for Cisco IP Phones could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute code with root privileges or cause a reload of an affected IP phone, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper input validation of HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the web server of a targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to remotely execute code with root privileges or cause a reload of an affected IP phone, resulting in a DoS condition.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
In the wild: CISA lists this as exploited in real attacks. Treat as urgent.
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2019-12-12 00:00 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2020-04-15 20:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2021-11-03 Exploited in the wildAdded to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-05-03 Remediation deadlineCISA's due date for federal agencies to fix it
2026-06-17 03:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: yes, CISA lists it. This puts it above everything that is not.
Exploit odds: 83.9% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 9.8 CRITICAL (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
It meets the bar for Drop everything: critical, and exploited or very likely to be.

Details

Published: 2020-04-15 20:15 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 03:17 UTC
Added to CISA KEV: 2021-11-03
Exploit probability: 83.9% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-20 · Improper input validation
Record status: Analyzed

Affected

Cisco Ip Phone 8865 Firmware 10.3\(1\)es14
Cisco Ip Phone 8865 Firmware 11.0\(1\)
Cisco Ip Phone 8865 Firmware 11.0\(5\)sr1
Cisco Ip Phone 8851 Firmware 10.3\(1\)es14
Cisco Ip Phone 8851 Firmware 11.0\(1\)
Cisco Ip Phone 8851 Firmware 11.0\(5\)sr1
Cisco Ip Phone 7841 Firmware 11.0\(1\)
Cisco Ip Phone 7821 Firmware 11.0\(1\)

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 9.8

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2020-3161.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2020-3161. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record