CVE-2023-20269A 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…
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It affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and 3 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.
CISA lists it as known exploited since Sep 13, 2023; federal agencies had to remediate by Oct 4, 2023, and it is known to be used in ransomware. Treat that date as your deadline.
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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.
- CVSS
- 5.0 MEDIUM (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
- Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-288
- Known exploited
- Added to CISA KEV Sep 13, 2023; federal remediation due Oct 4, 2023; known ransomware useApply mitigations per vendor instructions for group-lock and vpn-simultaneous-logins or discontinue use of the product for unsupported devices.
- EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
- 25.45% (percentile 98)
- Assigned by
- cisco
- NVD analysis
- Analyzed
- Record last updated
- Aug 6, 2026
- First seen by InfoSec Signals
- Oct 9, 2026
Affected products
Cisco Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_asa_software (from the name) | 9.8.1; 9.8.1.5; 9.8.1.7; 9.8.2; 9.8.2.8; 9.8.2.14; 9.8.2.15; 9.8.2.17; and 162 more ranges | CNA record |
Cisco Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software cisco:firepower_threat_defense_software (from the name) | 6.2.3; 6.2.3.1; 6.2.3.2; 6.2.3.3; 6.2.3.4; 6.2.3.5; 6.2.3.6; 6.2.3.7; and 68 more ranges | CNA record |
cisco adaptive_security_appliance_software cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software | 9.8.1; 9.8.1.5; 9.8.1.7; 9.8.2; 9.8.2.8; 9.8.2.14; 9.8.2.15; 9.8.2.17; and 162 more ranges | NVD |
cisco secure_firewall_threat_defense cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense | 6.2.3; 6.2.3.1; 6.2.3.2; 6.2.3.3; 6.2.3.4; 6.2.3.5; 6.2.3.6; 6.2.3.7; and 68 more ranges | NVD |
References
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-ravpn-auth-8LyfCkeCvendor-advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20269us-government-resource
The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry
The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.