CVE-2022-20697Network attack vector

Authenticated device reload via HTTP resource exhaustion

Published Apr 15, 2022 · Updated Nov 6, 2024

Resource exhaustion in Cisco IOS allows remote authenticated users to reload devices by flooding the enabled HTTP server. The HTTP server code improperly manages resources while processing a large volume of HTTP requests, eventually forcing the device to reload. Exposure requires the HTTP or HTTPS server feature and active session modules; configurations that disable the respective active-session modules are not exploitable.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability1.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource exhaustion in Cisco IOS allows remote authenticated users to reload devices by flooding the enabled HTTP server. The HTTP server code improperly manages resources while processing a large volume of HTTP requests, eventually forcing the device to reload. Exposure requires the HTTP or HTTPS server feature and active session modules; configurations that disable the respective active-session modules are not exploitable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20697
Published
Apr 15, 2022
Updated
Nov 6, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco IOS
Classifications
CWE-772, CWE-691, T1499.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 15, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco IOSversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:C
8.6Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-772Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
CWE-691Insufficient Control Flow Management
T1499.003Application Exhaustion Flood

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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