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Broadworks Application Delivery PlatformApplication · Cisco

CVE-2023-20204

MEDIUM · 5.4 CVSS v3.1 Published 2023-08-03
Fix available
A fix is available. Upgrade to 23.0.2023.08 / 24.0.2023.08 or later.
See remediation →
58/100
Remediation priority · Elevated
Remotely reachable

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco BroadWorks CommPilot Application Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the interface. This vulnerability exists because the web-based management interface does not properly validate user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · high confidence

This is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco BroadWorks CommPilot Application Software's web-based management interface. The interface fails to properly validate user-supplied input, allowing an authenticated attacker to inject malicious script code via a crafted link. When a user clicks the link, the attacker's script executes in the context of the affected interface, enabling access to sensitive browser-based information or arbitrary code execution.

MitigationApply the vendor patch when available. Until then, restrict access to the web management interface to trusted users only and educate users about avoiding clicks on untrusted links.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Broadworks Application Delivery PlatformApplication
Affected:< ri.2023.06
Broadworks Application ServerApplication
Affected:< 23.0.2023.08< 2023.06>= 24.0, < 24.0.2023.08
Broadworks Xtended Services PlatformApplication
Affected:< 23.0.2023.08

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

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

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Identify the installed Cisco BroadWorks product
    Access the system and run the command to display the installed software package or check the web management interface login page for product identification. Common commands include 'show version' or checking the application startup logs.
    Affected if The product is Cisco BroadWorks Application Delivery Platform, Application Server, or Xtended Services Platform
  2. Determine the installed version number
    Run the appropriate version command for your BroadWorks component. For Application Server, use 'swversion' or check the release information in the management console. For Application Delivery Platform, check the ri version via the platform management interface.
    Affected if The version falls outside the fixed releases: for Application Delivery Platform, version is earlier than ri.2023.06; for Application Server, version is earlier than 23.0.2023.08, earlier than 2023.06, or between 24.0 and 24.0.2023.08; for Xtended Services Platform, version is earlier than 23.0.2023.
  3. Verify the web management interface is enabled
    Check the BroadWorks service configuration to confirm the CommPilot web-based management interface or associated web services are active. Look for HTTP/HTTPS listener status in the service configuration files or management console.
    Affected if The web management interface is running and accessible
  4. Check network exposure of the management interface
    Review firewall rules, access control lists, or network configuration to determine if the web management port is exposed to untrusted networks. Use 'show ip interface' or check the firewall configuration to list accessible management interfaces.
    Affected if The web interface is accessible from networks outside the trusted administrative zone

You are affected if you run any of the three BroadWorks platforms at a version below the fixed releases AND have the web management interface enabled and accessible.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

dbcve · scoped
Upgrade available Upgrade to 23.0.2023.08 / 24.0.2023.08 / 2023.06 or later
Fixed in 23.0.2023.0824.0.2023.082023.06
Interim mitigation

Apply the vendor patch when available. Until then, restrict access to the web management interface to trusted users only and educate users about avoiding clicks on untrusted links.

Recommended fix High confidence

Upgrade to ri.2023.06 (Application Delivery Platform), 23.0.2023.08 or 24.0.2023.08 (Application Server), or 23.0.2023.08 (Xtended Services Platform) depending on product line

  1. 1. Identify the specific Broadworks product in use (Application Delivery Platform, Application Server, or Xtended Services Platform)
  2. 2. Determine the currently installed version using the web-based management interface or system administration tools
  3. 3. For Broadworks Application Delivery Platform: upgrade to version ri.2023.06 or later
  4. 4. For Broadworks Application Server (versions < 23.0): upgrade to version 23.0.2023.08 or later
  5. 5. For Broadworks Application Server (versions 24.0 and later): upgrade to version 24.0.2023.08 or later
  6. 6. For Broadworks Xtended Services Platform: upgrade to version 23.0.2023.08 or later
  7. 7. After upgrade, verify the fix by checking that the web-based management interface properly sanitizes user input
  8. 8. Review user access controls as this vulnerability requires authentication to exploit
Caveat Standard upgrade risks apply - test in non-production environment first; review Cisco upgrade documentation for specific migration considerations

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Broadworks Application Delivery Platform Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation4.0 h
  • Implementation8.0 h
  • Testing6.0 h
  • Review / QA4.0 h
22.0 hours of engineering $3,860
Get the upgrade done

An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $6,176.

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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-20204 in production — separate from our analysis above.

No notes yet

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What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here
  • Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
  • No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
  • No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data