# CVE-2023-20018: Auth bypass in Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Software

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication on Cisco IP Phones to access restricted parts of the web management interface.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jc6w-v2gh-gqx3

## What is CVE-2023-20018?

CVE-2023-20018 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Software, published on 19 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco IP Phone 7800 and 8800 Series Phones could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication on an affected device.

 This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access certain parts of the web interface that would normally require authentication.

Weakness: CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization), CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20018?

It affects 22 products.


Products: Cisco Ip Phone 7800 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 7811 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 7821 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 7832 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 7841 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 7861 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8800 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8811 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8821-Ex Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8821 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8831 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8832 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8841 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8845 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8851 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8861 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phone 8865 Firmware, Cisco Ip Phones 8832 Firmware, Cisco Unified Ip Phone 8851nr Firmware, Cisco Unified Ip Phone 8865nr Firmware and 2 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-20018?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20018 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-20018 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20018 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Software

- [CVE-2018-0325](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0325/): Denial of service in Cisco IP Phone 7800 Series and 8800 Series (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-20018 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-20018 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Software, published on 19 Jan 2023. 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-2023-20018 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Software. 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-2023-20018/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20018/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20018
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20018
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-20018

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20018/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.