CVE-2022-20920Network attack vector

Authenticated device reload via repeated SSH requests

Published Oct 10, 2022 · Updated May 27, 2026

Denial of service in Cisco IOS SSH allows remote authenticated users to reload affected devices through repeated SSH requests. The SSH implementation mishandles resources during an exceptional condition as specific requests arrive across continuously renewed connections. The device must run an affected release with SSH enabled, and successful exploitation interrupts device services by forcing a reload.

CVSS severity7.7
High
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in Cisco IOS SSH allows remote authenticated users to reload affected devices through repeated SSH requests. The SSH implementation mishandles resources during an exceptional condition as specific requests arrive across continuously renewed connections. The device must run an affected release with SSH enabled, and successful exploitation interrupts device services by forcing a reload.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20920
Published
Oct 10, 2022
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco IOS
Classifications
CWE-755, T1499.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 10, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 2026Record 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

7.7CiscoCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1499.002Service 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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