Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2022-20759 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 28.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 1.83% of all scored CVEs.
EPSS places it among the vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited soon.
What to do
- Update Secure Firewall Threat Defense to 6.4.0.15 or 6.6.5.2 or 7.0.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Adaptive Security Appliance Software to 9.12.4.38 or 9.14.4 or 9.15.1.21 or 9.16.2.14, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Cisco | Secure Firewall Threat Defense | before 6.4.0.15; 6.5.0 up to, but not including, 6.6.5.2; 6.7.0 up to, but not including, 7.0.2; 7.1.0 | 6.4.0.15, 6.6.5.2, 7.0.2 |
| Cisco | Adaptive Security Appliance Software | before 9.12.4.38; 9.13.0 up to, but not including, 9.14.4; 9.15.0 up to, but not including, 9.15.1.21; 9.16.0 up to, but not including, 9.16.2.14; 9.17.0 up to, but not including, 9.17.1.7 | 9.12.4.38, 9.14.4, 9.15.1.21, 9.16.2.14, 9.17.1.7 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 8.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
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.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.5 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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