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CVE-2020-3452: Cisco ASA and FTD Read-Only Path Traversal Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.5 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: yes — in CISA KEV since 2021-11-03
• EPSS: 100.0% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: yes
• Published: 2020-07-22 · updated 2026-08-11
• Weakness: CWE-20

Description

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.

Affected products

• Cisco ASA Software: from 9.6 before 9.6.4.42; from 9.8 before 9.8.4.20; from 9.9 before 9.9.2.74; from 9.10 before 9.10.1.42; from 9.12 before 9.12.3.12; from 9.13 before 9.13.1.10 — fixed in 9.10.1.42, 9.12.3.12, 9.13.1.10, 9.14.1.10, 9.6.4.42, 9.8.4.20
• Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software: from 6.2.3 before 6.2.3.16; from 6.3.0 before 6.3.0.6; from 6.4.0 before 6.4.0.10; from 6.5.0 before 6.5.0.5; from 6.6.0 before 6.6.0.1 — fixed in 6.2.3.16, 6.3.0.6, 6.4.0.10, 6.5.0.5, 6.6.0.1

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Cisco ASA Software 9.10.1.42, 9.12.3.12, 9.13.1.10, 9.14.1.10; Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software 6.2.3.16, 6.3.0.6, 6.4.0.10, 6.5.0.5. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• 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-Inclusion.html
• 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
• 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-Inclusion.html
• 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
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asaftd-ro-path-KJuQhB86
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-3452

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