Cisco · Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD)
CVE-2020-3452
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software and Firepower Threat Defense Software Web Services Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability
What it is
A vulnerability in the web services interface of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct directory traversal attacks and read sensitive files on a targeted system. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper input validation of URLs in HTTP requests processed by an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request containing directory traversal character sequences to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view arbitrary files within the web services file system on the targeted device. The web services file system is enabled when the affected device is configured with either WebVPN or AnyConnect features. This vulnerability cannot be used to obtain access to ASA or FTD system files or underlying operating system (OS) files.
CISA: Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) contain an improper input validation vulnerability when HTTP requests process URLs. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request containing directory traversal character sequences to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view arbitrary files within the web services file system on the targeted device.
What to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Deadline for US federal agencies: May 3, 2022
- Added to the CISA list
- November 3, 2021
- Published
- July 22, 2020
- Severity
- High 7.5 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- >99.9% in the top 0.1% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-20
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (5)
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-ro-path-KJuQhB86
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158646/Cisco-ASA-FTD-Remote-File-Disclosure.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158647/Cisco-Adaptive-Security-Appliance-Software-9.11-Local-File-Inclus…
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/159523/Cisco-ASA-FTD-9.6.4.42-Path-Traversal.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160497/Cisco-ASA-9.14.1.10-FTD-6.6.0.1-Path-Traversal.html
More exploited flaws from Cisco
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2024 | ASA and FTD Denial-of-Service | Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) | Medium 5.8 | 16% |
| Apr 24, 2024 | ASA and FTD Denial of Service | Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) | High 8.6 | 70% |
| Apr 24, 2024 | ASA and FTD Privilege Escalation | Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) | Medium 6.0 | 19% |
| Feb 15, 2024 | ASA and FTD Information Disclosure | Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) | High 7.5 | 72% |
| Nov 3, 2021 | ASA and FTD Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) | Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) | Medium 6.1 | 86% |
| Oct 14, 2026 | Relative Path Traversal | Secure Email Gateway | Critical 9.8 | 2.2% |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Hex Encoding | Catalyst SD-WAN Manager | Critical 9.8 | 39% |
| Sep 16, 2026 | Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs | Identity Services Engine | Critical 10.0 | 76% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.