# CVE-2009-1220: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script via the Host header in Cisco ASA WebVPN clientless mode, requiring user interaction to execute.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Apr 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v3f3-x57x-hfg9

## What is CVE-2009-1220?

CVE-2009-1220 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance, published on 1 Apr 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in +webvpn+/index.html in WebVPN on the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) 5520 with software 7.2(4)30 and earlier 7.2 versions including 7.2(2)22, and 8.0(4)28 and earlier 8.0 versions, when clientless mode is enabled, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Host HTTP header.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-1220?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance, Cisco Ios.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-1220?

No fix has been published for CVE-2009-1220 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2009-1220 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-1220 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Cisco ASA Appliance 7.x/8.0 WebVPN - Cross-Site Scripting (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance

- [CVE-2021-1573](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1573/): Denial of service in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2021-34793](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34793/): Denial of service in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2021-40117](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40117/): Denial of service in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2021-40118](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40118/): Denial of service in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2020-3304](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3304/): Denial of service in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software (high 8.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-1220 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-1220 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance, published on 1 Apr 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-1220 exists.

Affected product: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1220/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1220/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-1220
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-1220
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-1220

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1220/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.