Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
CVE-2022-20760 is a high-severity uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.61% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 76% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
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 tools.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
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; 7.0.0 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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.6 | High | CNA (cisco.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
A vulnerability in the DNS inspection handler of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service condition (DoS) on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to a lack of proper processing of incoming requests. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted DNS requests at a high rate to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the device to stop responding, resulting in a DoS condition.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Ensure that protocols have specific limits of scale placed on them.
- Ensure that all failures in resource allocation place the system into a safe posture.
More Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities (CWE-400)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- 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 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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