Unity ConnectionApplication · Cisco
CVE-2024-20272
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 · uneditedA vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Unity Connection could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload arbitrary files to an affected system and execute commands on the underlying operating system. This vulnerability is due to a lack of authentication in a specific API and improper validation of user-supplied data. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by uploading arbitrary files to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to store malicious files on the system, execute arbitrary commands on the operating system, and elevate privileges to root.
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 confidenceCisco Unity Connection web-based management interface contains a flaw where a specific API lacks authentication checks and fails to properly validate user-supplied data. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this by uploading arbitrary files to the system, enabling command execution on the underlying OS with root privileges.
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
Unity ConnectionApplication
< 12.5.1.19017-4>= 14.0, < 14.0.1.14006-5CVSS 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
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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 checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify if the system is running Cisco Unity ConnectionRun 'show version' on the Cisco device or check the web interface login page for Unity Connection branding. In the admin web interface, navigate to System > Version to confirm the product name.Affected if The product is not Cisco Unity Connection, this CVE does not apply.
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Determine the installed Cisco Unity Connection versionIn the web-based management interface, go to System > Version to view the exact version number. Alternatively, use the CLI command 'show version' and look for the Unity Connection version string.Affected if The installed version is less than 12.5.1.19017-4, OR is 14.0.x and less than 14.0.1.14006-5. Versions 12.5.1.19017-4 and later, and 14.0.1.14006-5 and later are not affected.
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Verify if the web-based management interface is enabled and accessibleCheck if TCP port 443 or 8443 is listening on the Unity Connection server and responds to HTTP/HTTPS requests. Access the management URL (typically https://<hostname>/cuweb) and confirm the interface is active.Affected if The web interface is disabled and not accessible from any network, the attack surface is reduced. However, the vulnerability still exists in the software if a version check shows it is within the affected range.
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Review access controls on the web management interfaceCheck the device access list or firewall rules to determine what IP addresses or networks can reach the web-based management interface ports (443, 8443). Document the allowed source IPs/networks.Affected if The interface is exposed to untrusted networks or the internet without restriction, the system is at higher risk of exploitation.
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Inspect for any unauthorized files or unexpected artifactsCheck common upload directories on the Unity Connection filesystem for unexpected files. Review system logs (especially /var/log/active and httpd logs) for signs of anomalous upload requests or suspicious file creation.Affected if Unexpected files are found in upload directories or logs show suspicious upload activity, this may indicate exploitation attempts.
The system is affected if it runs Cisco Unity Connection with a version less than 12.5.1.19017-4, or version 14.0 through 14.0.1.14006-4, and the web-based management interface is network-accessible.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
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 · scoped12.5.1.19017-414.0.1.14006-5
Apply the vendor-provided patch from Cisco immediately. Until patch deployment, restrict network access to the web-based management interface to only trusted administrative networks or implement a web application firewall to block unauthorized file upload requests.
12.5.1.19017-4 (12.x branch) or 14.0.1.14006-5 (14.x branch) or later
- 1. Identify the current installed version of Cisco Unity Connection via the CLI (run 'show version' or check in admin interface)
- 2. If running version 12.x and below 12.5.1.19017-4, plan upgrade to 12.5.1.19017-4 or later
- 3. If running version 14.x and below 14.0.1.14006-5, plan upgrade to 14.0.1.14006-5 or later
- 4. Schedule a maintenance window and back up the system configuration
- 5. Download the appropriate ISO upgrade file from Cisco (requires valid service contract)
- 6. Follow Cisco upgrade procedures - typically via the CLI or administration interface
- 7. After upgrade, verify the new version is running and confirm the vulnerability is remediated
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
Fix this in Unity Connection
Scoped from the published advisory
- Consultation2.0 h
- Implementation4.0 h
- Testing3.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $3,088.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2024-20272 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2024-20272 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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