Cisco Products Apache Commons Collections Library deserialization

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Cisco Products. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown function of the component Apache Commons Collections Library. Performing a manipulation results in deserialization. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2015-6420. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. Due to its background and reception, this vulnerability has an historic impact. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Cisco Products. It has been classified as very critical. This affects an unknown code block of the component Apache Commons Collections Library. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deserialization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-502. The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently verifying that the resulting data will be valid. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Serialized-object interfaces in certain Cisco Collaboration and Social Media; Endpoint Clients and Client Software; Network Application, Service, and Acceleration; Network and Content Security Devices; Network Management and Provisioning; Routing and Switching - Enterprise and Service Provider; Unified Computing; Voice and Unified Communications Devices; Video, Streaming, TelePresence, and Transcoding Devices; Wireless; and Cisco Hosted Services products allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted serialized Java object, related to the Apache Commons Collections (ACC) library.

The weakness was released 12/15/2015 as cisco-sa-20151209-java-deseria as confirmed advisory (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at tools.cisco.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2015-6420 since 08/17/2015. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 02/24/2026). Due to its background and reception, this vulnerability has a historic impact.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 93939 (Cisco Unified Communications Manager Java Object Deserialization RCE (CSCux34835)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CISCO and running in the context c. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 43449 (Cisco IOS Java Deserialization Vulnerability (cisco-sa-20151209-java-deserialization)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (93939), SecurityFocus (BID 78872†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-55073†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-95830, VDB-97118, VDB-99028 and VDB-99026. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Cisco Collaboration and Social Media
  • Cisco Endpoint Clients and Client Software
  • Cisco Network Application, Service, and Acceleration
  • Cisco Network and Content Security Devices
  • Cisco Network Management and Provisioning
  • Cisco Routing and Switching - Enterprise and Service Provider
  • Cisco Unified Computing
  • Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Devices
  • Cisco Video, Streaming, TelePresence, and Transcoding Devices
  • Cisco Wireless
  • Cisco Hosted Services products

Productinfo

Vendor

Name

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.6

VulDB Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Temp Score: 9.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 9.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Deserialization
CWE: CWE-502 / CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 93939
Nessus Name: Cisco Unified Communications Manager Java Object Deserialization RCE (CSCux34835)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 803167
OpenVAS Name: Cisco WebEx Meetings Server Java Deserialization Vulnerability
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/17/2015 🔍
11/11/2015 +86 days 🔍
12/09/2015 +28 days 🔍
12/09/2015 +0 days 🔍
12/10/2015 +1 days 🔍
12/15/2015 +5 days 🔍
12/15/2015 +0 days 🔍
12/16/2015 +1 days 🔍
10/10/2016 +299 days 🔍
02/24/2026 +3424 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: cisco.com

Advisory: cisco-sa-20151209-java-deseria
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2015-6420 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2015-6420
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-79791
CERT: 🔍
SecurityFocus: 78872 - Multiple Cisco Products CVE-2015-6420 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 55073 - [cisco-sa-20151209-java-deserialization] Cisco Multiple Products Remote Code Execution via Serialized Java Object, High

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 12/16/2015 09:47
Updated: 02/24/2026 23:20
Changes: 12/16/2015 09:47 (60), 04/23/2019 12:43 (14), 11/18/2024 09:19 (17), 12/28/2024 00:31 (1), 03/25/2025 18:36 (1), 02/24/2026 23:20 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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