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. Additionally, an authenticated, remote attacker could 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 and establish a clientless SSL VPN session (only when running Cisco ASA Software Release 9.16 or earlier).
Cisco will release software updates that address this vulnerability. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability, including applying mitigations per vendor instructions for group-lock and VPN simultaneous logins or discontinuing use of the product for unsupported devices.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information and compromise the integrity of the network.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access, sensitive data exposure, and the possibility of further exploitation if valid credentials are obtained.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is classified as medium severity with a CVSS score of 5. It affects the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense products. The official CVE description states that the vulnerability could allow an attacker to exploit the improper separation of AAA controls.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper configuration of AAA mechanisms, which allows for brute force attacks against the VPN feature. The attack vector is network-based, with low complexity and requires low privileges. Importantly, no user interaction is required for this exploit.
The confidentiality impact is assessed as none, while integrity impact is low, indicating that the attacker could potentially manipulate some aspects of the system. There is no impact on availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing Cisco's Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense should be aware of the potential risks associated with this vulnerability. Given the nature of the attack vector, where unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit the vulnerability, the blast radius could be significant.
The urgency for remediation is critical, as the vulnerability is known to have been exploited in the wild. Organizations should apply the necessary patches and mitigations to safeguard against potential unauthorized access.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | Yes |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Firepower Threat Defense are affected: All versions prior to vendor patch.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply patches provided by Cisco. For more detailed information, refer to the vendor's advisory and consider implementing penetration testing to assess the security of their configurations.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for suspicious authentication attempts and establish alerts for abnormal access patterns. Behavioral anomalies and unauthorized access attempts should be flagged for further investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in the potential for exploitation by unauthorized users. Organizations should take note of the patterns emerging from this vulnerability and the lessons learned in securing remote access configurations.
Security teams are encouraged to keep abreast of the latest security trends and implement proactive measures. For more comprehensive security assessments, consider reviewing our vulnerability management program and the penetration testing methodology for thorough security evaluations.
Lastly, organizations should remain vigilant to not only patch vulnerabilities but also to engage in continuous security testing to maintain a robust security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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