# CVE-2024-20272: File upload in Cisco Unity Connection

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can upload arbitrary files to Cisco Unity Connection to execute commands and gain root privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 2 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vxjc-53hv-3fh8

## What is CVE-2024-20272?

CVE-2024-20272 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Unity Connection, published on 17 Jan 2024. 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 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.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-20272?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Unity Connection.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-20272?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-20272 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-20272 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-20272 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Unity Connection

- [CVE-2014-3333](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3333/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2012-0366](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0366/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2026-20034](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20034/): Cisco Unity Connection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2012-3060](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-3060/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2012-0367](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0367/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-20272 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-20272 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Unity Connection, published on 17 Jan 2024. 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-2024-20272 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Unity Connection. 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-2024-20272/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20272/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-20272
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-20272
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-20272

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20272/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.