# What is CVE-2023-20018? > CVE-2023-20018 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) in IP Phone 7800 from Cisco, published on 20 January 2023. 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 0.6%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2023-20018 ## At a glance - **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle. - **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 47 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** Medium (CVSS 6.5 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:** 0.6% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 20 January 2023 - **Record last updated:** 25 January 2024 - **Main product:** IP Phone 7800 from Cisco - **Affected products:** 44 ## What is CVE-2023-20018? 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 some data and change some data. ### The official description A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IP Phone 7800 and 8800 Series Phones could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access certain parts of the web interface that would normally require authentication. ### What kind of flaw is it? - CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel - CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization ### 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 some data and change some data Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N` ## Is CVE-2023-20018 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 0.6%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 0.6%, 0.6%, 0.6%, 0.6%, 0.6%, 0.6%, 0.6%. ### Timeline - 20 January 2023: Published - 25 January 2024: Record last updated ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2023-20018 scores **47 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-2023-20018? The published record lists 44 products. Versions are as published: "before 14.1(1)sr2" means every version up to, but not including, 14.1(1)sr2. - [IP Phone 7800](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7800) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 7800 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7800_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 7811](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7811) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 7811 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7811_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 7821](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7821) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 7821 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7821_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 7832](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7832) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 7832 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7832_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 7841](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7841) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 7841 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7841_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 7861](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7861) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 7861 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_7861_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8800](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8800) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8800 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8800_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8811](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8811) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8811 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8811_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8821](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8821) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8821 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8821_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8821-EX](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8821-ex) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8821-EX Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8821-ex_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8831](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8831) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8831 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8831_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8832](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8832) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8832 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8832_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8841](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8841) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8841 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8841_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8845](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8845) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8845 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8845_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8851](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8851) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8851 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8851_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8861](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8861) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8861 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8861_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phone 8865](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8865) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phone 8865 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phone_8865_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [IP Phones 8832](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phones_8832) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [IP Phones 8832 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ip_phones_8832_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [Unified IP Phone 8851nr](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/unified_ip_phone_8851nr) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Unified IP Phone 8851nr Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/unified_ip_phone_8851nr_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [Unified IP Phone 8865nr](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/unified_ip_phone_8865nr) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Unified IP Phone 8865nr Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/unified_ip_phone_8865nr_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 14.1(1)sr2 - [Wireless IP Phone 8821](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/wireless_ip_phone_8821) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Wireless IP Phone 8821 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/wireless_ip_phone_8821_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 11.0(6)sr4 - [Wireless IP Phone 8821-EX](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/wireless_ip_phone_8821-ex) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Wireless IP Phone 8821-EX Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/wireless_ip_phone_8821-ex_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): before 11.0(6)sr4 ## How do I fix CVE-2023-20018? 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 - [sec.cloudapps.cisco.com](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ip-phone-auth-bypass-pSqxZRPR) (Vendor advisory) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2023-20018? CVE-2023-20018 is a medium-severity flaw in IP Phone 7800 from Cisco, published on 20 January 2023. 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 some data and change some data. ### How serious is CVE-2023-20018? It scores 6.5 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2023-20018 is 47 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle. ### Is CVE-2023-20018 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 0.6%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. ### Which versions does CVE-2023-20018 affect? For IP Phone 7800 from Cisco: version not specified. The record lists 44 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page. ### How do I fix CVE-2023-20018? 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-2023-20018 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