Improper privilege management in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-266.
Summary
A vulnerability in the web services interface for remote access VPN features of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, but unprivileged, remote attacker to elevate privileges to level 15. This vulnerability is due to improper separation of authentication and authorization scopes. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS messages to the web services interface of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain privilege level 15 access to the web management interface of the device. This includes privilege level 15 access to the device using management tools like the Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) or the Cisco Security Manager (CSM). Note: With Cisco FTD Software, the impact is lower than the CVSS score suggests because the affected web management interface allows for read access only.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
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 | Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software VendorCisco Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 6.4.0.15; 6.5.0 to before 6.6.5.2; 6.7.0 to before 7.0.2 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 9.12.4.38; 9.13.0 to before 9.14.4; 9.15.0 to before 9.15.1.21; 9.16.0 to before 9.16.2.14; 9.17.0 to before 9.17.1.7 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 6.4.0.15; 6.5.0 to before 6.6.5.2; 6.7.0 to before 7.0.2 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:secure_firewall_threat_defense:7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:adaptive_security_appliance_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 9.12.4.38; 9.13.0 to before 9.14.4; 9.15.0 to before 9.15.1.21; 9.16.0 to before 9.16.2.14; 9.17.0 to before 9.17.1.7 Vulnerable ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-20759
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
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences