CVE-2022-20853 in Expressway Series
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2024
A vulnerability in the REST API of Cisco Expressway Series and Cisco TelePresence VCS could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack on an affected system.
This vulnerability is due to insufficient CSRF protections for the web-based management interface of an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the REST API to follow a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected system to reload. Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2025
This vulnerability resides within the Cisco Expressway Series and Cisco TelePresence VCS product lines, specifically targeting their REST API implementations. The affected systems operate within enterprise communication environments where secure management interfaces are critical for maintaining operational integrity. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on these unified communications platforms, as it undermines the fundamental security controls that protect against unauthorized administrative actions. The affected systems typically serve as core components in video conferencing and unified communications infrastructures, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to disrupt business operations or gain unauthorized access to sensitive communication channels.
The technical flaw manifests as insufficient cross-site request forgery protections within the web-based management interface of these devices. This weakness allows an attacker to craft malicious links that, when clicked by an authenticated user, can trigger unintended administrative actions on the affected system. The vulnerability specifically affects the REST API endpoints that handle system configuration and management functions, creating a pathway for remote exploitation without requiring authentication credentials. The CSRF attack vector exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser, leveraging the user's existing authenticated session to execute unauthorized commands. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications and services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system disruption, as it creates potential for more severe consequences within enterprise environments. A successful exploitation could result in unauthorized system reloads, which would disrupt ongoing video conferences and communication services, potentially causing significant business interruption. The attack requires social engineering to convince users to follow malicious links, but once executed, it could lead to persistent service degradation or complete system unavailability. Organizations with these devices deployed in mission-critical communication scenarios face heightened risk, as the vulnerability could be exploited to create denial-of-service conditions during important business meetings or emergency communications. The vulnerability also represents a potential stepping stone for attackers to escalate privileges or conduct further reconnaissance on the network infrastructure.
Cisco has addressed this vulnerability through targeted software updates that implement proper CSRF token validation mechanisms for the affected REST API endpoints. These updates typically require device administrators to perform firmware upgrades to restore adequate protection against cross-site request forgery attacks. The security patch implements proper session management controls that ensure all administrative requests contain valid CSRF tokens, preventing unauthorized actions from being executed through crafted user interactions. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates, as there are no viable workarounds available to mitigate this specific vulnerability. The absence of workaround solutions emphasizes the importance of immediate remediation and highlights the critical nature of maintaining up-to-date security patches for communication infrastructure components. Security teams should monitor their Cisco Expressway Series and VCS deployments for successful patch deployment and verify that the CSRF protections are properly enabled and functioning as intended.