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A vulnerability in the remote access VPN feature of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a brute force attack in an attempt to identify valid username and password combinations or an authenticated, remote attacker to establish a clientless SSL VPN session with an unauthorized user. This vulnerability is 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. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by specifying a default connection profile/tunnel group while conducting a brute force attack or while establishing a clientless SSL VPN session using valid credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to achieve one or both of the following: Identify valid credentials that could then be used to establish an unauthorized remote access VPN session. Establish a clientless SSL VPN session (only when running Cisco ASA Software Release 9.16 or earlier). Notes: Establishing a client-based remote access VPN tunnel is not possible as these default connection profiles/tunnel groups do not and cannot have an IP address pool configured. This vulnerability does not allow an attacker to bypass authentication. To successfully establish a remote access VPN session, valid credentials are required, including a valid second factor if multi-factor authentication (MFA) is configured. Cisco will release software updates that address this vulnerability. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.
| Cisco | Adaptive Security Appliance Software |
| Cisco | Secure Firewall Threat Defense |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
| Source | Exploited | Ransomware Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| cisa-kev | Yes | Known | KEV entry: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense Unauthorized Access Vulnerability | Affected: Cisco / Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense | Description: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense contain an unauthorized access vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a brute force attack in an attempt to identify valid username and password combinations or establish a clientless SSL VPN session with an unauthorized user. | Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions for group-lock and vpn-simultaneous-logins or discontinue use of the product for unsupported devices. | Due date: 2023-10-04 | Known ransomware campaign use (KEV): Known | Notes (KEV): https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-ravpn-auth-8LyfCkeC; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20269 |
| kevintel | Yes | Known | KEVIntel entry: A vulnerability in the remote access VPN feature of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD)... | Affected: Cisco / Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software, Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software | CVSS: 5.0 (MEDIUM) | Used in malware: yes | Not yet in CISA KEV: False |
| Vendor Source | Status | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat CSAF VEX | known not affected (1) | Red Hat Product Security has determined that this vulnerability does not affect any currently supported Red Hat product. This assessment may evolve based on further analysis and discovery. For more information about this vulnerability and the products it affects, please see the linked references. |