CVE-2026-20062: High Vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance

A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software in multiple context mode could allow an authenticated, local attacker with administrative privileges in one context to copy files to or from another context, including configuration files. This vulnerability is due to improper access controls for Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) operations when the CiscoSSH stack is enabled. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to a non-admin context of the device and issuing crafted SCP copy commands in that non-admin context. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read, create, or overwrite sensitive files that belong to another context, including the admin and system contexts. The attacker cannot directly impact the availability of services pertaining to other contexts. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid administrative credentials for a non-admin context. Note: An attacker cannot list or enumerate files from another context and would need to know the exact file path, which increases the complexity of a successful attack.

The severity of this vulnerability is classified as high, with a CVSS score of 7.2. This indicates a significant risk to organizations that utilize Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is crucial for organizations to address this issue as part of their immediate patching cycle.

Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, which could lead to further exploitation or data breaches. The requirement for valid administrative credentials adds a layer of complexity, yet the potential impacts remain serious.

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate this vulnerability and prevent potential data exposure or unauthorized file access.

Vulnerability Details

This vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges in a non-admin context to execute SCP commands that can access sensitive files across different contexts. The CVSS score of 7.2 indicates a high severity, with the potential for significant confidentiality and integrity impacts.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper access controls for SCP operations. The attack vector is local, requiring that the attacker has administrative privileges in at least one context. The attack complexity is classified as high because the attacker must know the exact file path to exploit this vulnerability successfully.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Real-world deployment risk includes the potential for sensitive file exposure across contexts, which can lead to unauthorized access to configuration details critical for the operation of the firewall. This vulnerability may not directly impact service availability but can compromise system integrity and confidentiality significantly. Organizations should assess their exposure and act accordingly.

Exploitation Status

Affected Versions

All versions prior to vendor patch are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version of Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to remediate this vulnerability. Ensure that all administrative users are aware of the security implications and enforce strong access controls. Consider implementing network controls that restrict SCP operations to trusted contexts only. For further guidance, organizations may refer to penetration testing services to assess the security posture.

Detection Guidance

To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor log indicators for unusual SCP commands issued from non-admin contexts. Behavioral anomalies such as unauthorized file access or modification attempts should also be flagged for review. Implement network signatures that can identify unauthorized SCP operations across contexts.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

This vulnerability highlights the importance of enforcing strict access controls in multi-context environments. Security teams should ensure that administrative privileges are granted judiciously and that users are trained on safe operational practices. The potential for unauthorized access to sensitive configurations underscores the need for continuous security assessments. Organizations can benefit from integrating effective penetration testing methodologies into their security practices to stay ahead of emerging threats. Additionally, understanding attack vectors and continuously updating defenses is vital to maintaining resilience against potential exploitation.