CVE-2024-20272

Cisco Unity Connection ≤ 12.5.1.19017-4

Published

17 January 2024

Modified

17 June 2026

Patch / advisory

View advisory

CVSS Score v3.1 7.3

Click a component to see what it means

Raw vector

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

EPSS Score 0.016 75th percentile

Risk Priority 59 floored blend · peak EPSS

CVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.

Summary

CVE-2024-20272 is a high-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Cisco Unity Connection. Its CVSS base score is 7.3 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Data Obfuscation (T1001); ranked in the top 25% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-3 (Malicious Code Protection) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-17987

Vulnerability Data

A 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.

CWE(s): CWE-434 NVD-CWE-noinfo

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1001 Data Obfuscation Command And Control

Adversaries may obfuscate command and control traffic to make it more difficult to detect.

attack.mitre.org →

T1001.003 Protocol or Service Impersonation Command And Control

Adversaries may impersonate legitimate protocols or web service traffic to disguise command and control activity and thwart analysis efforts.

attack.mitre.org →

T1003.004 LSA Secrets Credential Access

Adversaries with SYSTEM access to a host may attempt to access Local Security Authority (LSA) secrets, which can contain a variety of different credential materials, such as credentials for service accounts.

attack.mitre.org →

T1003.005 Cached Domain Credentials Credential Access

Adversaries may attempt to access cached domain credentials used to allow authentication to occur in the event a domain controller is unavailable.

attack.mitre.org →

T1007 System Service Discovery Discovery

Adversaries may try to gather information about registered local system services.

attack.mitre.org →

T1011.001 Exfiltration Over Bluetooth Exfiltration

Adversaries may attempt to exfiltrate data over Bluetooth rather than the command and control channel.

attack.mitre.org →

Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-20034Same product: Cisco Unity Connection

CVE-2024-20305Same product: Cisco Unity Connection

CVE-2026-20035Same product: Cisco Unity Connection

CVE-2025-20287Same vendor: Cisco

CVE-2025-20375Same vendor: Cisco

CVE-2023-20073Same vendor: Cisco

CVE-2025-20354Same vendor: Cisco

CVE-2025-20274Same vendor: Cisco

CVE-2023-20196Same vendor: Cisco

CVE-2023-20195Same vendor: Cisco

Affected Assets

cisco

unity connection

≤ 12.5.1.19017-4 · 14.0 — 14.0.1.14006-5

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent

Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect

Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden

Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

—

Validate

Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

V5.1.1

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-3 Malicious Code Protection good match

Malicious-code protection at entry points blocks dangerous file types from being accepted and executed.

CM-7 Least Functionality partial match

Least functionality restricts the file types and automatic processing capabilities the system will accept.

SC-18 Mobile Code partial match

Mobile-code controls define, authorize, and block unacceptable uploaded code before automatic processing occurs.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-01 partial match

blocks

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.

PR.PS-05 partial match

blocks

Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.

PR.PS-06 partial match

blocks

Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.5.14 Information transfer partial match

removes

A.5.15 Access control partial match

removes

A.5.16 Identity management partial match

removes

A.5.17 Authentication information partial match

removes

A.5.18 Access rights partial match

removes

A.5.25 Assessment and decision on information security events partial match

removes