A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM S...
Description
A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session Management Edition (Unified CM SME) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks through an affected device
AI Analyst Comment
Remediation
Apply vendor security updates immediately. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
CISA KEV Details
Deadline: June 27, 2026
Required Action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
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VENDOR: Cisco
PRODUCT: Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM)
AFFECTED_VERSIONS: See vendor advisory for specific affected versions
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Description Summary:
A server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager allows unauthenticated remote attackers to perform arbitrary file operations and escalate privileges to root.
Executive Summary:
A critical SSRF vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary file operations and potentially gain root-level system access.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-20230
Affected Software: Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Session Management Edition (SME)
Affected Versions: See vendor advisory for specific affected versions
Vulnerability: The vulnerability is a server-side request forgery (SSRF) flaw that does not require authentication. It allows remote attackers to force the application to perform unauthorized requests, leading to arbitrary file operations on the underlying OS and potential privilege escalation to root.
Business Impact
The CVSS score of 8.6 indicates a severe risk to internal infrastructure. Because this vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to manipulate file operations and gain root access, the potential impact includes total compromise of the communications server, unauthorized access to sensitive call data, and potential lateral movement into the core network.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action: Consult the official Cisco security advisory and apply the necessary patches or software upgrades immediately.
Proactive Monitoring: Inspect network traffic to and from the Unified CM server for anomalous requests or unauthorized outbound connections that suggest SSRF activity.
Compensating Controls: Restrict network access to the management interface of the Unified CM to trusted internal segments only, and utilize a WAF to block malformed or suspicious HTTP requests.
Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: False
Analyst Notes: As of June 4, 2026, there is no public information indicating active exploitation of this vulnerability. However, due to the nature of the flaw, the potential for exploitation is high.
Analyst Recommendation
Given the ability for an unauthenticated attacker to gain root access, this vulnerability must be treated with the highest urgency. IT administrators should verify the version of their Cisco Unified CM deployment and apply relevant security updates as soon as they are made available by the vendor.