Skip to content

CVE-2020-3161

Improper Input Validation — is CVE-2020-3161real, exploitable, or a false positive? Here's the community ground truth.

Critical · CVSS 9.8EPSS 83.7%CISA KEVCWE-20 · Improper Input Validation

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

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.

Published

Embed this verdict
TruePositive verdict for CVE-2020-3161
Markdown
[![TruePositive verdict](https://www.truepositive.app/cve/CVE-2020-3161/badge.svg)](https://www.truepositive.app/cve/CVE-2020-3161)
HTML
<a href="https://www.truepositive.app/cve/CVE-2020-3161"><img src="https://www.truepositive.app/cve/CVE-2020-3161/badge.svg" alt="TruePositive verdict for CVE-2020-3161"></a>

Live badge — updates automatically as the community verdict changes.

Community ground truth

Community verdict

2 verdicts
Not a real issue

Includes TruePositive's curated baseline from public sources — community verdicts accrue on top.

Pick your verdict — we'll save it right after a quick sign-in.

Community real-world severity: Critical (Critical 2) — CVSS base score 9.8

In line with its CVSS base score.

Field notes & remediation

Verdicts are the quick signal — notes are the evidence and fixes behind them.

  • 0
    Field note · Waleed AzizCurated

    Cisco IP Phones Web Server Remote Code Execution and Denial-of-Service Vulnerability — Cisco IP Phones contain an improper input validation vulnerability for HTTP requests. Exploitation could allow an attacker to execute code remotely with root privileges or cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. Listed in the CISA KEV catalog (added 2021-11-03) — confirmed exploited in the wild, not theoretical. FIRST EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at ~84%. Treat it as real and prioritize remediation over triage.

  • 0
    Remediation · Priya NairCurated

    Required action for Cisco Cisco IP Phones: Apply updates per vendor instructions. CISA set a federal remediation due date of 2022-05-03. After patching, verify the vulnerable path is no longer reachable before closing the finding.

Same weaknessCWE-20 · Improper Input Validation.