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CVE-2022-20829: Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager and Adaptive Security Appliance Software Client-side Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.2 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 3.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: yes
• Published: 2022-06-24 · updated 2026-06-17
• Weakness: CWE-345

Description

A vulnerability in the packaging of Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) images and the validation of those images by Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative privileges to upload an ASDM image that contains malicious code to a device that is running Cisco ASA Software. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of the authenticity of an ASDM image during its installation on a device that is running Cisco ASA Software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by installing a crafted ASDM image on the device that is running Cisco ASA Software and then waiting for a targeted user to access that device using ASDM. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the machine of the targeted user with the privileges of that user on that machine. Notes: To successfully exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have administrative privileges on the device that is running Cisco ASA Software. Potential targets are limited to users who manage the same device that is running Cisco ASA Software using ASDM. Cisco has released and will release software updates that address this vulnerability.

Affected products

• Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM): before 7.18.1.150 — fixed in 7.18.1.150
• Cisco Asa 5512-X Firmware: before 9.18.2 — fixed in 9.18.2
• Cisco Asa 5515-X Firmware: before 9.18.2 — fixed in 9.18.2
• Cisco Asa 5585-X Firmware: before 9.18.2 — fixed in 9.18.2
• Cisco Isa 3000 Firmware: before 9.18.2 — fixed in 9.18.2

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) 7.18.1.150; Cisco Asa 5512-X Firmware 9.18.2; Cisco Asa 5515-X Firmware 9.18.2; Cisco Asa 5585-X Firmware 9.18.2; Cisco Isa 3000 Firmware 9.18.2. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://github.com/jbaines-r7/theway
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asa-asdm-sig-NPKvwDjm
• https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2022/08/11/rapid7-discovered-vulnerabilities-in-cisco-asa-asdm-and-firepower-services-software/
• https://github.com/jbaines-r7/theway
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-asa-asdm-sig-NPKvwDjm
• https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2022/08/11/rapid7-discovered-vulnerabilities-in-cisco-asa-asdm-and-firepower-services-software/

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