# What is CVE-2023-20209? > CVE-2023-20209 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.2) in Telepresence Video Communication Server from Cisco, published on 16 August 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 41%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2023-20209 ## 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:** 53 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.2 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:** 41% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 16 August 2023 - **Record last updated:** 25 January 2024 - **Main product:** Telepresence Video Communication Server from Cisco - **Affected products:** 1 ## What is CVE-2023-20209? In plain terms It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an administrator account, 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 web-based management interface of Cisco Expressway Series and Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with read-write privileges on the application to perform a command injection attack that could result in remote code execution 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 of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to establish a remote shell with root privileges. ### What kind of flaw is it? - CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') - CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') ### 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: An administrator account - 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:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` ## Is CVE-2023-20209 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 41%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 41%, 41%, 41%, 41%, 41%, 41%, 41%. ### Timeline - 16 August 2023: Published - 25 January 2024: Record last updated - 19 November 2025: Exploit likelihood fell - 22 November 2025: Exploit likelihood jumped ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2023-20209 scores **53 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-2023-20209? The published record lists 1 product. Versions are as published: "before 14.3.1" means every version up to, but not including, 14.3.1. - [Telepresence Video Communication Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/telepresence_video_communication_server) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Application): before 14.3.1 ## How do I fix CVE-2023-20209? 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-expressway-injection-X475EbTQ) (Vendor advisory) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2023-20209? CVE-2023-20209 is a high-severity flaw in Telepresence Video Communication Server from Cisco, published on 16 August 2023. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an administrator account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline. ### How serious is CVE-2023-20209? It scores 7.2 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2023-20209 is 53 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-2023-20209 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 41%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. ### Which versions does CVE-2023-20209 affect? For Telepresence Video Communication Server from Cisco: before 14.3.1. ### How do I fix CVE-2023-20209? 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-2023-20209 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