Authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) - CVE-2023-20269
Published: September 7, 2023 / Updated: September 8, 2023
Vulnerability identifier: #VU80521
CSH Severity: High
CVSS v4: 8.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2023-20269
CWE-ID: CWE-288
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
The vulnerability is being exploited in the wild
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to bypass authentication process.
The vulnerability exists due to improper separation of authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) between the remote access VPN feature and the HTTPS management and site-to-site VPN features. A remote user can perform a brute-force attack and establish a clientless SSL VPN session with an unauthorized user.
Note, the vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild.
Affected software
Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA)
Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD)
Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD)
How to mitigate CVE-2023-20269
Install updates from vendor's website.
Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) - update to 9.16.4.38
Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) - update to 9.16.4.38
Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) - update to 9.16.4.38