Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software: Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
CVE-2025-20133 is a high-severity missing release of memory after effective lifetime vulnerability in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.6 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software versions: 9.12.3; 9.8.3; 9.12.1, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.8% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 57% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- 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 | 9.12.3; 9.8.3; 9.12.1; 9.12.2; 9.8.2.45; 9.8.4; 9.14.1; 9.12.4; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
| Cisco | Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Software | 6.2.3.14; 6.4.0.1; 6.2.3.7; 6.4.0.2; 6.2.3.9; 6.2.3.1; 6.2.3.2; 6.4.0.5; and 32 more ranges | Not stated |
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
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:C/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (cisco.com).
Official description
A vulnerability in the management and VPN web servers of the Remote Access SSL VPN feature of Cisco Secure Firewall ASA Software and Secure FTD Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause the device to unexpectedly stop responding, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability is due to ineffective validation of user-supplied input during the Remote Access SSL VPN authentication process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the VPN service on an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a DoS condition where the device stops responding to Remote Access SSL VPN authentication requests.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, making the memory unavailable for reallocation and reuse.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language or tool that provides automatic memory management, or makes manual memory management less error-prone. For example, glibc in Linux provides protection against free of invalid pointers. When using Xcode to target OS X or iOS, enable automatic reference counting (ARC). To help correctly and consistently manage memory when programming in C++, consider using a smart pointer class such as std
- Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
- Consider using the Boehm-Demers-Weiser garbage collector (bdwgc), which can help avoid leaks.
More Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities (CWE-401)
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
Other references
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 Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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