# What is CVE-2022-20695? > CVE-2022-20695 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) in Wireless LAN Controller 8.10.151.0 from Cisco, published on 15 April 2022. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 20%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2022-20695 ## At a glance - **Verdict:** Fix this soon. Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month. - **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 55 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** Critical (CVSS 10.0 out of 10) - **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today - **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 20% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 15 April 2022 - **Record last updated:** 7 November 2023 - **Main product:** Wireless LAN Controller 8.10.151.0 from Cisco - **Affected products:** 34 ## What is CVE-2022-20695? In plain terms It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline. ### The official description A vulnerability in the authentication functionality of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication controls and log in to the device through the management interface This vulnerability is due to the improper implementation of the password validation algorithm. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by logging in to an affected device with crafted credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass authentication and log in to the device as an administrator. The attacker could obtain privileges that are the same level as an administrative user but it depends on the crafted credentials. Note: This vulnerability exists because of a non-default device configuration that must be present for it to be exploitable. For details about the vulnerable configuration, see the Vulnerable Products section of this advisory. ### What kind of flaw is it? - CWE-287: Improper Authentication - CWE-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm ### How an attack on it works - Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet - How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions - Login needed first: No login needed - Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything - What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H` ## Is CVE-2022-20695 being exploited? Not that we know of It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 20%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%. ### Timeline - 15 April 2022: Published - 7 November 2023: Record last updated - 16 June 2026: Exploit likelihood jumped ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2022-20695 scores **55 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation". Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less: - Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor - How severe it is: strong factor - How widely exposed it is: smaller factor - Threat activity around it: smaller factor 85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it. ## Who is affected by CVE-2022-20695? The published record lists 34 products. - [Wireless LAN Controller 8.10.151.0](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/wireless_lan_controller_8.10.151.0) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Application): all versions - [3504 Wireless Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/3504_wireless_controller) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [5520 Wireless Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/5520_wireless_controller) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [8540 Wireless Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/8540_wireless_controller) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1540](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1540) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1542d](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1542d) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1542i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1542i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1560](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1560) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1562d](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1562d) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1562e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1562e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1562i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1562i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1815](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1815) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1815i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1815i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1815m](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1815m) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1815t](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1815t) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1815w](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1815w) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1830](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1830) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1830e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1830e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1830i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1830i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1832](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1832) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1850](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1850) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1850e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1850e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1850i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1850i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1852](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1852) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 2800](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_2800) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 2800e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_2800e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 2800i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_2800i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 3800](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 3800e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 3800i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 3800p](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800p) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 4800](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_4800) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Virtual Wireless Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/virtual_wireless_controller) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Application): version not specified - [Wireless LAN Controller 8.10.162.0](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/wireless_lan_controller_8.10.162.0) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Application): all versions ## How do I fix CVE-2022-20695? 1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list. 2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list. 3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in. 4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood. ### References - [tools.cisco.com](https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-wlc-auth-bypass-JRNhV4fF) (Vendor advisory) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2022-20695? CVE-2022-20695 is a critical-severity flaw in Wireless LAN Controller 8.10.151.0 from Cisco, published on 15 April 2022. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline. ### How serious is CVE-2022-20695? It scores 10.0 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is critical. Our risk score for CVE-2022-20695 is 55 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month. ### Is CVE-2022-20695 being exploited? It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 20%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. ### Which versions does CVE-2022-20695 affect? For Wireless LAN Controller 8.10.151.0 from Cisco: all versions. The record lists 34 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page. ### How do I fix CVE-2022-20695? Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. ## Does CVE-2022-20695 affect you? Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you: - **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website. - **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list. - **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it. - **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools. Start free (no card, nothing to install): https://www.precursorintelligence.com/register Book a demo: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/contact