Improper input validation in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-667 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A vulnerability in the ingress flow creation functionality of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the CPU to increase upwards of 100% utilization, causing a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected system. The vulnerability is due to incorrect handling of an internal software lock that could prevent other system processes from getting CPU cycles, causing a high CPU condition. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a steady stream of malicious IP packets that can cause connections to be created on the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to exhaust CPU resources, resulting in a DoS condition during which traffic through the device could be delayed. This vulnerability applies to either IPv4 or IPv6 ingress traffic. This vulnerability affects Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software that is running on the following Cisco products: 3000 Series Industrial Security Appliances (ISA), ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances, ASA 5500-X Series Next-Generation Firewalls, ASA Services Module for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches and Cisco 7600 Series Routers, Adaptive Security Virtual Appliances (ASAv), Firepower 2100 Series Security Appliances, Firepower 4110 Security Appliances, Firepower 9300 ASA Security Modules. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf63718.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance | Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Vendor— Affected Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.1 to before 9.1.7.20; 9.3 to before 9.4.4.13; 9.5 to before 9.6.3.17; 9.7 to before 9.7.1.16; 9.8 to before 9.8.2.14 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.2 to before 9.2.4.27; 9.9 to before 9.9.1 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:98.1\(12.187\):*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 98.1(12.187) | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 to before 6.1.0.6; 6.2.0 to before 6.2.0.5; 6.2.1 to before 6.2.2.2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 to before 9.1.7.20; 9.3 to before 9.4.4.13; 9.5 to before 9.6.3.17; 9.7 to before 9.7.1.16; 9.8 to before 9.8.2.14 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.2 to before 9.2.4.27; 9.9 to before 9.9.1 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:98.1\(12.187\):*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 98.1(12.187) Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 to before 6.1.0.6; 6.2.0 to before 6.2.0.5; 6.2.1 to before 6.2.2.2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-0228
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mg38-475c-j5r2
References
More Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-14628 Buffer overflow in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance Software KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2016-05454 Buffer overflow in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software through 9.4.2.3 on… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-06973 Authentication bypass in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2026-82192 Denial of service in Cisco Secure Firewall ASA and FTD SSL VPN KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2026-16533 Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance and Secure Firewall Threat Defense… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2025-14657 Missing authorization in Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance Software KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
Sources
- CVE-2018-0228 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-0228 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mg38-475c-j5r2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences