# CVE-2020-6972: Auth bypass in Notifier Web Server (NWS) Version 3.50 and earlier

> Attackers can bypass authentication in Honeywell Notifier Web Server via capture-replay attacks, gaining unauthorized access to fire alarm systems.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Mar 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4pww-fgmg-2g7r

## What is CVE-2020-6972?

CVE-2020-6972 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Honeywell Notifier Web Server (NWS) Version 3.50 and earlier, published on 24 Mar 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Notifier Web Server (NWS) Version 3.50 and earlier, the Honeywell Fire Web Server’s authentication may be bypassed by a capture-replay attack from a web browser.

Weakness: CWE-294 (Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-6972?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Honeywell Notifier Webserver.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-6972?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-6972 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-6972 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-6972 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Honeywell Notifier Web Server (NWS) Version 3.50 and earlier

- [CVE-2020-6974](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6974/): Path traversal in Honeywell Notifier Web Server (NWS) (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-6972 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-6972 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Honeywell Notifier Web Server (NWS) Version 3.50 and earlier, published on 24 Mar 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-6972 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Honeywell Notifier Web Server (NWS) Version 3.50 and earlier. 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-2020-6972/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6972/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-6972
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-6972
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-6972

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6972/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.